Spending Time With Jesus
"Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God" (3 John 11).
What does John mean about those who had not seen God? What is his point? How does one see God?
John had much to learn from Jesus. Even after spending time in His compassionate presence, John was still protective of his own turf and intolerant of others. On one occasion he stopped someone from casting out demons in Jesus' name because he was not an official disciple (Mark 9:38). Jesus gently taught him that " 'whoever is not against us is for us' " (vs. 40, NIV).
John grew in strength of character at the Master's side. At the time of Jesus' crucifixion, when other disciples had fled, John alone remained at the foot of the cross. The regard Jesus held for John is shown in the way He entrusted His mother into John's care (John 19:26, 27).
Read 2 Corinthians 3:18. What important principle is found there? What practical ways can we apply this principle to our own lives?
If you read the Epistles of John, you cannot help noting the kindness, the gentleness, the compassion found all through them. What a profound difference from the John presented in the Gospels. Truly something utterly remarkable happened to that man. We, of course, know what it was: He had been with Jesus, and his life and character had been radically altered from the experience. Skim through the three Epistles of 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John. Look at the character revealed there. How did Jesus change John's life? What aspects of your own life could use change, as well? What practical steps are you taking in order to allow God to bring those changes?
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