The reason for this blog is to help read & discuss Biblical Scriptures.
As a church we started reading daily, chapter by chapter. we share songs of worship, overviews & various other posts that help us study and understand the Word of God better.
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To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth – and not I only, but also all who know the truth – 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us for ever:
3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.
4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.
12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.
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Word by Word Meditations
by Fred Ursell
2nd John: “ahead” (v.9)
Does the Bible sometimes disconcert you, make you scratch your head in bewilderment and wonder, ‘What on earth does that mean?’ Excellent! Why? We’re ‘disciples’ (i.e. ‘learners’), which means we still don’t understand or know everything.
This short letter contains a very odd sentence, “anyone who runs ahead… does not have God” (v.9). We’re supposed to progress and move forward, surely. The words missed out […] are “… and does not continue in the teaching of Christ …” The explanation must be, if “anyone runs ahead” they’re too headstrong.
I will declare that your love stands firm for ever,
that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
3
You said, ‘I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant,
4
“I will establish your line for ever
and make your throne firm through all generations.”’
5
The heavens praise your wonders, Lord,
your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
6
For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?
7
In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
he is more awesome than all who surround him.
8
Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?
You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
9
You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, you still them.
10
You crushed Rahab like one of the slain;
with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.
11
The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
you founded the world and all that is in it.
12
You created the north and the south;
Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.
13
Your arm is endowed with power;
your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.
14
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.
15
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
16
They rejoice in your name all day long;
they celebrate your righteousness.
17
For you are their glory and strength,
and by your favour you exalt our horn.
18
Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.
19
Once you spoke in a vision,
to your faithful people you said:
‘I have bestowed strength on a warrior;
I have raised up a young man from among the people.
20
I have found David my servant;
with my sacred oil I have anointed him.
21
My hand will sustain him;
surely my arm will strengthen him.
22
The enemy will not get the better of him;
the wicked will not oppress him.
23
I will crush his foes before him
and strike down his adversaries.
24
My faithful love will be with him,
and through my name his horn will be exalted.
25
I will set his hand over the sea,
his right hand over the rivers.
26
He will call out to me, “You are my Father,
my God, the Rock my Saviour.”
27
And I will appoint him to be my firstborn,
the most exalted of the kings of the earth.
28
I will maintain my love to him for ever,
and my covenant with him will never fail.
29
I will establish his line for ever,
his throne as long as the heavens endure.
30
‘If his sons forsake my law
and do not follow my statutes,
31
if they violate my decrees
and fail to keep my commands,
32
I will punish their sin with the rod,
their iniquity with flogging;
33
but I will not take my love from him,
nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
34
I will not violate my covenant
or alter what my lips have uttered.
35
Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness –
and I will not lie to David –
36
that his line will continue for ever
and his throne endure before me like the sun;
37
it will be established for ever like the moon,
the faithful witness in the sky.’
38
But you have rejected, you have spurned,
you have been very angry with your anointed one.
39
You have renounced the covenant with your servant
and have defiled his crown in the dust.
40
You have broken through all his walls
and reduced his strongholds to ruins.
41
All who pass by have plundered him;
he has become the scorn of his neighbours.
42
You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
you have made all his enemies rejoice.
43
Indeed, you have turned back the edge of his sword
and have not supported him in battle.
44
You have put an end to his splendour
and cast his throne to the ground.
45
You have cut short the days of his youth;
you have covered him with a mantle of shame.
46
How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself for ever?
How long will your wrath burn like fire?
47
Remember how fleeting is my life.
For what futility you have created all humanity!
48
Who can live and not see death,
or who can escape the power of the grave?
49
Lord, where is your former great love,
which in your faithfulness you swore to David?
50
Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked,
how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,
51
the taunts with which your enemies, Lord, have mocked,
with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one.
52
Praise be to the Lord for ever!
Amen and Amen.
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Word by Word Meditations
by Fred Ursell
Psalm 89: “faithfulness”
(vv.1-2, 5, 8, 14, 33 & 49)
This may be a long Psalm (52 verses), but when you spot a particular word being used over and over again, sit up and take it in. Especially as in this case the word “faithfulness” is used exactly 7 times, which is the number symbolising God’s perfection.
The writer (Ethan) extols the LORD’s nature and character every time, no exceptions. What stands out is that he switches from praising to prophecy (see vv.19b-37), speaking to and then from the LORD. Believers find this happens as we ‘tune in’ to God.
Our own ‘faithfulness’ is fragile, his “faithfulness” is “great” (Lamentations 3 v.23). Amen!
From my youth I have suffered and been close to death;
I have borne your terrors and am in despair.
16
Your wrath has swept over me;
your terrors have destroyed me.
17
All day long they surround me like a flood;
they have completely engulfed me.
18
You have taken from me friend and neighbour –
darkness is my closest friend.
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Word by Word Meditations
by Fred Ursell
Psalm 88: “confined” (v.17)
The worst pandemic for a century (Covid) swept the world early in 2019. Did you know the Spanish word for ‘lockdown’ is ‘confinamento’? Due to the enormous disruption in daily living, along with the physical health issue, there is psychological and emotional damage.
Though the Psalms were written centuries ago, similar feelings affected the writer, who felt trapped by circumstances: “I am confinedand cannot escape” (v.8). His prayer was “you have put me … in the darkest depths … over-whelmed me with all your waves” (vv.6-7).
Feeling isolated? You’re not alone in that! Plus – Jesus is near!
