Author: Andrew Timberlake

Joshua 4:1-24

1 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

8 And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the LORD told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there. 9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day. 10 For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua.

The people passed over in haste. 11 And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the LORD and the priests passed over before the people. 12 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had told them. 13 About 40,000 ready for war passed over before the LORD for battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.

15 And the LORD said to Joshua, 16 “Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan.” 17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” 18 And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.

19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. 21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.”

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

God told Joshua to have the twelve men, one from each tribe, who were set apart (Jos 3:12) and have them each take a large stone out of the middle of the Jordan River. They were to take them from where the priests were standing on dry ground in the river and take them with them to the other side. Joshua also set up a pile of twelve stones in the middle of the river bed to mark where the priests had stood while all Israel passed through. This seems like something Joshua did on his own accord (not a direct command from God) as a personal reminder of what God had done.

When all the people had safely crossed over, the priests came up out of the river. As soon as the priests set their feet on the dry ground of the shore, the river resumed flowing and overflowed its banks as it had before.

Those twelve stones from the river were set up as a memorial at Gilgal. They served as a reminder so that one day their children would ask why those twelve stones were there and it would prompt them to tell the story of how God miraculously dried up the river and allowed them to pass over the Jordan River on dry ground just as He had done with the Red Sea. Why, “so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.” (v. 24)

Memorials can be a powerful reminder of what God has done. Every time the memorial is seen it prompts you to revisit and tell others the story it represents. Memorials don’t have to be huge. You can set up small memorials and keep little mementos. A bible received at your baptism is a reminder. A token from a camp can be a reminder. A journal entry or a photograph can be a reminder. What reminders do you have that take you back to God’s promises (and your promises to God). What can you do to set up regular reminders of God’s faithfulness in your life?

Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan

Ten Commandements: Exodus 20

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 3

Joshua 3:1-17

1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 At the end of three days the officers went through the camp 3 and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. 4 Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” 5 Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” 6 And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.

7 The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8 And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” 9 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.” 10 And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. 12 Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. 13 And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.”

14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), 16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. 17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

Having received confirmation from the spies that they could move forward in confidence, Joshua moved the camp of Israel up to the Jordan river and they camped there for three days to prepare. At the time the Jordan river was in flood so the water had broken the banks and the people must have wondered how they were all going to get across safely. Joshua prepared the people by telling them they were to follow the ark of the covenant of the Lord but at a safe distance of almost 1km. The ark represented God’s presence among Israel and He was to be respected with fear, not treated with familiarity. Joshua didn’t yet know how they were going to get across to Jericho but he told the people to consecrate themselves in preparation. They were about to go into battle and Joshua told them to prepare themselves spiritually rather than to prepare for battle. Joshua anticipated God doing wonders and the people had to be right with God for God to work among them. Only after Joshua prepared everything in faith did God reveal His plan. God told Joshua that He would exalt him in the eyes of Israel so they would know that He was with Joshua as He had been with Moses. Joshua communicated the plan by pointing out that what God was going to do would be how they would know that God was with them and would go before them to drive out all the people of the land they had been promised. When the priests feet touched the water of the overflowing river, the water backed up far upstream and all the water flowed downstream, the riverbed dried up and they were all able to cross over on dry ground.

When you come to that seemingly impossible situation where God’s promises are ahead but you can’t seem to get there, this story reminds us that we can’t move forward with human effort. The only way forward is by a life of faith and obedience.

Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan

Water from the Rock: Exodus 17

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 4

Joshua 2:1-24

1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.

8 Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9 and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign 13 that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”

15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. 16 And she said to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.” 17 The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household. 19 Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear.” 21 And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

22 They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing. 23 Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them. 24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

Joshua secretly sent two spies over the Jordan to scout out the land and focus on the city of Jericho. In Jericho they somehow ended up staying with Rahab the prostitute. While we are not told how they ended up staying with Rahab, it is clear that God was behind the meeting both to protect the spies and save Rahab from the coming destruction of Jericho. The king found out that men of Israel were in the city and they had been seen with Rahab. He sent men to arrest the spies but Rahab lied that while the Israelite spies had come to her, she did not know where they were from and that they had left via the city gate at dark in an unknown direction. Meanwhile, she had hidden the spies on the roof of her house among the flax that was drying there. The men of Jericho accepted Rahab’s story and chased after the Israelites towards the Jordan river and the city gates were closed behind them.

Was Rahab right to lie? The spies would probably have died at the hand of the king of Jericho and her lie saved them. We would be presumptuous to say with certainty that Rahab’s lie was the only way the spies could have been saved. God could have protected the spies some other way. Because God used a sinner still caught up in her sinful acts doesn’t mean that God condones the sin. God in His providence chooses to use sinners committing sinful acts to fulfil His purpose but that never excuses them of their sin. Rahab was commended for her faith shown in good works (Heb 11:31) but she was not commended for lying.

Rahab told the spies all they needed to know. She knew that the city was doomed as did everyone living there. They had heard how God had led them through the parted Red Sea and how they had destroyed Sihon and Og (who had been devoted to destruction for the Lord). The people of Jericho were petrified and had no fight in them because they knew they were as good as defeated already. Rahab expressed faith in the God of Israel as the true God of the heavens and of earth. She then asked that the spies would deal with her kindly as she had shown them kindness and that they would spare her and her family when they came to destroy the city. The men agreed with some conditions. If she did not divulge their plans and if she hung a scarlet cord in her window to identify her house and if she kept her family within her house then they would be spared. If any of them left the house then their deaths would be on their heads, but if they kept the conditions then the spies agreed to protect them. Then Rahab let the spies down the wall through her window and they escaped to the hills where they hid for three days until it was safe to return to Joshua. When they got back they relayed the news that God had surely given them victory and they could continue in confidence.

Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan

Through the Red Sea: Exodus 14

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 4

Proverbs 11:20-31

20   Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD,
    but those of blameless ways are his delight.
21   Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
    but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22   Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
    is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23   The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
    the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24   One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
    another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25   Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
    and one who waters will himself be watered.
26   The people curse him who holds back grain,
    but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
27   Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
    but evil comes to him who searches for it.
28   Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
29   Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30   The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
    and whoever captures souls is wise.
31   If the righteous is repaid on earth,
    how much more the wicked and the sinner!

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings that are easily applied to everyday situations. Consider carefully which of the sayings you’ve read today are particularly applicable to you today and in the coming week. What do you need to change or do more of to make use of God’s wisdom in your life?

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 1

Psalm 5

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

1   Give ear to my words, O LORD;
    consider my groaning.
2   Give attention to the sound of my cry,
    my King and my God,
    for to you do I pray.
3   O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;
    in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
4   For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
    evil may not dwell with you.
5   The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
    you hate all evildoers.
6   You destroy those who speak lies;
    the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7   But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
    will enter your house.
  I will bow down toward your holy temple
    in the fear of you.
8   Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness
    because of my enemies;
    make your way straight before me.
9   For there is no truth in their mouth;
    their inmost self is destruction;
  their throat is an open grave;
    they flatter with their tongue.
10   Make them bear their guilt, O God;
    let them fall by their own counsels;
  because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
    for they have rebelled against you.
11   But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
    let them ever sing for joy,
  and spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may exult in you.
12   For you bless the righteous, O LORD;
    you cover him with favor as with a shield.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

The Psalms are great for helping us relate to God and worship Him. It’s wonderful to spend time in the word and grow in your knowledge of God at a head level. Use today to do your quiet time a little differently and try to grow in your knowledge of God at a heart level. We must always strive to move from knowing of God to knowing God.

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 2

Joshua 1:1-18

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

10 And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’”

12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said, 13 “Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers and shall help them, 15 until the LORD gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they also take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

16 And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses! 18 Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

After Moses died, God commissioned Joshua to lead His people. Joshua was one of the twelve spies who scouted out the promised land but only he and Caleb had the faith to believe that God would give the land to Israel as He had promised (Num 13:1-16). The other ten were too afraid of the large people who lived in the land. While God was going to give them the land, it would need to be conquered through marching and hard fighting. God would go before them but they needed to be strong and courageous trusting that God would do as He promised. God promised never to leave or abandon Joshua. God never turns back on a promise.

Joshua also had to be strong and very courageous to obey God’s word faithfully. The Book of the Law was possibly Genesis through Deuteronomy but at the very least it was all the commands and laws God had given Moses. Joshua was to keep on talking about God’s word (Deu 6:7), meditate on it continually (Ps 1:2) and obey everything it commanded (Ez 7:10; Jas 1:22). Joshua had a huge and daunting task ahead of him but if he did things God’s way, he would be successful. Again God told Joshua to be strong and courageous because He would be with him wherever he would go.

We too can be strong and courageous to tackle life challenges if we trust in God’s promise, access God’s power (through obedience to His Word) and abide in God’s presence.

Joshua did as God commanded. He assumed command over Israel and prepared them to cross the Jordan and take possession of the land God had promised them. He rallied the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh who had already settled in their inheritance this side of the Jordan but had promised to cross the Jordan and fight for their fellow countrymen. Their response shows that they had not forgotten their promise and were ready and willing to lead the charge. Everyone united behind their new leader Joshua and committed to obey him as they had obeyed Moses. They even encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous.

Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan

The Passover and the Exodus: Exodus 11-12

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 2

3 John 9-15

9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

13 I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

Gaius, whom John is writing to is a member of a church that is led by Diotrephes. Gaius has been praised for walking in the truth. Diotrephes, the leader of the church, on the other hand is now criticised because he has been ignoring apostolic authority. John is not writing to speak behind Diotrephes’ back. John wrote to the church and it appears that Diotrephes has supressed the letter so that Gaius may not even be aware that it was sent. John finds himself having to bypass the church because of a wayward and self exalting leader. John needs to explain why he is bypassing the normal communication channels but assures Gaius that he will deal with Diotrephes face to face when he gets there. Before that time he is writing to Gaius because he is sending Demetrius who needs the kind of hospitality Gaius is known for. John assures him that Demetrius comes with a good testimony from many, including the apostles. Gaius is being called on to offer Christian hospitality and brotherly love under a leader who refuses to offer hospitality as he should and threatens those who do with being put out of the church. Instead of following the example of his wayward leader, Gaius is encouraged to do what is good because that is from God.

It is sad when someone uses their role in the church for self gratification and personal ambition at the expense of Christian love. When that happens the church is no longer able to function as a body. Even if we have the misfortune of finding ourselves in a similar situation we can still do what is good because that is from God (remember our new nature from God is inherently sinless, 1 John 3:6) rather than imitating the evil of those who are not in fellowship with God (and yes, sadly that can include some leaders in the church). Will you be a Diotrephes who puts himself first, or will you be a Gaius who walks in the truth?

Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan

The Plagues Part Two: Exodus 9-10

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 2

3 John 1-8

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

John, the elder wrote this letter to Gaius in truth. As we learned in 1 John, genuine love is based in God’s truth and John is primarily concerned that believers live in the full experience of truth and love. Just as in 2 John, John is filled with joy to learn through the testimony of others that his children in the faith are walking in the truth. Gaius has a testimony of walking in truth and John wishes him good physical health that would mirror his good spiritual health.

John commends Gaius for his faithfulness in providing hospitality to strangers, travelling preachers and teachers. In 2 John, John warned the church not to provide hospitality to travelling teachers who were not teaching sound doctrine. But for those who were teaching the truth, it was a good thing to support them in their ministry and provide them with hospitality as a very practical expression of Christian love.

While Gaius is doing well, John still encourages him with a reminder to continue to be generous. These travelling preachers were ministering for the sake of the name, for the sake of Jesus. They were sharing the gospel with the Gentiles (unbelievers) and would not accept support from those they were freely sharing the gospel with. It is a good thing when missionaries freely offer the gospel and rely on fellow believers for their support. The message can and does get confused when someone shares free salvation while at the same time asking for money. When we support missionaries, we become fellow workers for the truth.

Is your walk, your way of living, a testimony to the truth? We learned in 1 John that love is expressed in action (in deed and truth rather than in word or talk, 1 John 3:18). Hospitality is one way of showing Christian love but it is shown any time we meet the needs of others. In what way can you meet the needs of someone today?
Are you currently supporting those who are sharing the gospel as missionaries? You aren’t too young or too old. Your support can’t be too little or too much.

Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan

The Plagues Part One: Exodus 7-8

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 1

2 John 7-13

7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

13 The children of your elect sister greet you.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

John continues his appeal that we walk in love by living in obedience to God’s commandments. John gave this warning because many deceivers or false teachers were around who did not hold to the belief that Jesus was the Christ who came in the flesh. John warned them to be careful not to be led astray because the result would be the loss of the rewards they had been working for. He was not warning that they might lose out on their salvation (because our salvation is not something we work for—it is received as a gift given by grace and received through faith). If they did fail, they would not be totally deprived of reward but would not receive the full reward they could if they remained faithful. God does not forget what we have done for Him (Heb 6:10) but our reward can be in danger if we go on ahead without God (1 Cor 3:11-15). If we deviate from the truth and go on ahead (some manuscripts have “go aside”) and do not abide in the teaching of Christ, we are going it alone without God. If we remain in Christ’s teaching then we have [fellowship with] both the Father and the Son.

In the time of writing it was common for travelling teachers and preachers to rely on local believers to support them and provide hospitality. John gives a stern warning that if someone came teaching a doctrine other than the truth, they were not to be welcomed or shown any hospitality. To receive them was to share in their falsehood and help them spread their deceit. We might see this as rather harsh but that only shows that the culture of tolerance of our society has infected our conviction for the truth. We must not underestimate the danger of heresy (any belief that is outside of sound Biblical doctrine—truth).

John ended by expressing that while he still had much to say, he preferred to visit them and speak face to face. He also sent greetings from a sister church (if he had been writing to a lady, then it would be expected that greetings would come from her sister, not her sister’s children).

While we may not have the opportunity to welcome false teachers into our homes as they travel around the country, we do have a lot of opportunities to welcome them into our homes through the TV networks we watch, social media feeds we consume, books we read, podcasts we listen to etc. How discerning are you in ensuring you are not exposing yourself to anything that deviates from the truth?

Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan

Moses in Egypt: Exodus 4-5

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 2

2 John 1-6

1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.

4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time

At first glance, it seems that John is writing to a lady and her children but when you consider the final verse and the way this letter reads it is more likely that John is writing to a church. It is a church of believers, God’s elect or chosen ones. The love that John and others had for this community of believers is based on their shared belief in God’s truth. This shared truth they enjoyed then is the same truth we enjoy today because God’s truth remains the same through the ages.

Similar to Paul, John greets them with grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ but he goes on to explain that they will experience these things in truth and love. When truth and love are present, then God’s grace, mercy and peace will be fully experienced.

John expresses his joy in having recently met members of this church who were walking in the truth. It brings him great joy to see believers walking in obedience and he wanted the whole church to do the same. He reminds them that he is not bringing some new command but the command that has been there since they first believed, the command to love one another. And what is love but that we live according to God’s commands. John tells us that we should walk in “it”—singular. John saw all the aspects of God’s commandments as one obligation.

If you were met as a representative of your church, would those who met you post on social media that they had met some of the members walking in the truth? Everywhere we go we are representatives of our local church but also of the universal church of Christ—we represent believers everywhere. When people meet you do they see an accurate picture of grace, mercy, peace, truth, and love?

Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan

Moses and the Burning Bush: Exodus 3

Posted on by Andrew Timberlake 3