DECEMBER 8, 2023

 “Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.” 

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

DANIEL 11-12

33“Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. 34When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. 35Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.(11:33-35) 

3 JOHN

9I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.

11Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 12Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.

JOURNAL 

Actions are the fruit of the heart. A changed heart will follow with actions that reflect that change. John says that "anyone who does what is evil has not seen God". This is a bold statement and seems to indicate that once you have seen God and have been transformed then evil no longer exists within you and therefore your actions will reflect that. 

Yet I also know from scripture that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". I also know from scripture that Paul, David, Peter...all the disciples had their moments of struggle. Yet in the end, their personal struggle in living out the Gospel was not compromised. I'm guessing then that "evil" has a far more sinister meaning.  Not struggle and missteps but a far more calculating level of action and intent. The struggle always exists but if we have surrendered to God, the struggle does not own us, and in the end love always wins!

. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.