Hosea 4:1-5:15, 2 John 1:1-13, Psalms 125:1-5, Proverbs 29:9-11
Today is the 6th day of December. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It is a pleasure and an honor to be here with you today as we continue to take these steps forward that lead us to the end of the year and the final pages of the Bible. But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Even though we don’t have a lot of days left we have a lot of territory to cover. And, so we began the book of Hosea yesterday in the Old Testament, which we will continue with today. We concluded the apostle John’s first letter, known as First John yesterday, which means we will begin Second John when we get to the New Testament and we’ll talk about that when we get there. But first we’re reading from the God’s Word Translation this week. Hosea chapter 4 verse 1 through 5 verse 15 today.
Introduction to Second John:
Okay. So, as we mentioned at the top of our time together, when we get to the New Testament we will be beginning a new letter and it’s known as Second John. And that’s what we’ll do. And we’ll read second John in its entirety today. And second John was probably written very shortly after First John was written and it was likely written to the same people because of its similarities. And, incidentally, it is those similarities that are reasons most scholars accept John as the authentic writer of these letters. And since it’s believe that John spent the latter part of his life in the city of Ephesus, then that is the likely origin of second John. So, this letter contains a whopping thirteen versus and the first three of them are our words of greeting and then the next three remind us of the importance of love, specifically loving each other, which was so much of the focus of first John. And then the next three verses speak against the false teaching of Docetism like the first one did. And then the next two verses offer instruction now found in the first letter, and these verses advise the readers how to behave toward a itinerant teacher who attempts to introduce false teaching into the church. And they’re specifically encouraged not to offer encouragement or hospitality. And then the final two verses conclude the letter. And it would be easy to allow first and second John a blur together because it’s like the same kind of terrain and subject matter. But if we just take a deep breath, because we’re gonna read this all one sitting. And just imagine, like, between yesterday and today, between first John and second John, imagine that months have gone by, and that the impact of first John is diminishing because of all the challenges that are being faced in the church. And that will put us in the right head-space to read second John because this would’ve come several months later as a reminder and an encouragement of what had been written before. And, so, we begin, Second John.
Prayer:
Father, every day we thank you for your word because it speaks into our lives into the deepest parts of our motives and our hearts posture. And, so, we thank you for that and we take to heart what we read today in the Psalms, that those who trust you are like a mountain that can’t be shaken. And as the mountains surrounding Jerusalem, and they certainly do, so You surround your people now and forever. And, so, we take comfort in that, knowing that you are present, that you are surrounding us, that we are in a bubble surrounded by you. What exactly is it that we have to fear? Come Holy Spirit into this question. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Also, the More Gathering registration is open now as well for the a More Gathering coming up this April in the mountains of north Georgia just outside of Atlanta. We were doing women’s events before we went to the mountaintop at Sharp Top Cove there in the mountains, but the More Gathering was kind of birthed…it’s only ever been there, and this is the last time it will be there. We’re feeling like God is saying this is the last year. And really not exactly sure…we don’t have like the whole story. I don’t like that. Like, that’s not my thing. I usually like to hear from the Lord and Him say, okay, this season is ending because this other season is beginning. And here’s where you’re to head. We don't…we just…we just know that this season is ending, and this is it. So, if you’ve been up to Sharp Top before then come back. This is your chance to end strong and well up there. If you’ve never been but you’ve wanted to come all of these years, you’ve gotta see it. It’s absolutely fantastic. And this is the year. We have we cut the pricing to the bare bare bone. Like we are at cost. The cost is $350 but that’s for nine cooked meals and three nights of lodging and all of the resources, all of the teaching, and just to be able to witness the team in action is magnificent. So, yeah, I mean, just can’t make it a better deal because that’s bone cost for us. Like, there’s nothing in this for the Daily Audio Bible other than that we love to build community around the rhythm of the Bible and this builds community, lifelong friendships. I mean there are groups of women that come every year because this is where they get back together because they live all over the world. The friendships that are formed at the More Gathering, they’re the kinds of friendships that last because the things that you go through together and the things that you can remind each other of are so necessary, that sisterhood is so necessary. So, yeah, More Gathering registration is open now and you can find that at dailyaudiobible.com in the Initiatives section or moregathering.com.
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And that’s it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.