“Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.”- 2 John 1:8-9 New Living Translation
Here we see John issuing another warning to his brethren. The “full reward” John speaks of is not salvation, but the rewards for loyal service. Salvation is secure. There were then & are now many distractions to pull you off the path of righteousness. Focus needs to be solely on the Lord and those things that are ordained & pleasing to him.
The most interesting word in these two verses is “relationship”. I have long said there is no religion, only relationship. A truly redeemed individual will have an intimate relationship with God & his Son Jesus. It doesn’t have to be as if it’s a cross continental correspondence relationship, but a personal one. We are the ones who must step up & engage in this relationship as if it were the most vital of things to pursue, because it is. Without Christ we are nothing. Even with Christ we are still nothing more than a speck of sand on the beach of humanity. However, the important part of all that is not necessarily what we think of ourselves, but rather what God thinks of us & the bible is very clear on that subject. Realizing the value God places in us we realize our own self-worth as a result.
John hammers home the thought that the teaching of Christ is just another one of those vital things people need to keep their focus on. Keeping a steady diet of God’s word flowing within & thru you will keep your relationship with the Lord strong. Tomorrow we move on in 2 John to his final admonition to the brethren. Until that time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller
Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.
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