Oct 14

Oct 8

Sep 29

Sep 23

Sep 22

Sep 13

  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a text contribution A Community of Truth
    2 John 1:1-2 We are a community of truth: - The truth abides in us. - The truth will be with us forever. - We know the truth. - We love each other in truth. This is a fascinating passage to me, because it declares that the church is not ultimately a community of love. It is a community of love (or should be) ultimately because of truth. The love Christians have for one another is not a love that comes from within us or is dependent on us, and I am so thankful that is the case. Human love alw… Read more »

Sep 5

  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a text contribution Devo
    "For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles." - I find the second half of this verse very interesting. Why should we accept nothing from the Gentiles? What does that mean? Does that mean they will only stay with Christians and will only accept support from Christians? "Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth." - When we provide support for people doing work in other places, the Bib… Read more »

Sep 4

  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a text contribution Devo
    "Beloved," - John is definitely a close friend with Gaius, and very pleased with his work. "it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are," - Whenever possible, we should be seeking to bless those who are doing the work of God, even when we don't know them very well. This is a representation of the faithfulness of God, a way that God is being faithful to them through us. "who testified to your love before the church.&q… Read more »

Sep 2

  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a text contribution Devo
    "For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." - In a world of disconnectedness, it is great to find out the spiritual state of those in whom I've invested time, effort, and care. What a joy indeed to hear they are thriving in the Lord and leading others into a life of truth. Read more »

Aug 27

  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a text contribution Devo
    "The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 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." - This is a great blessing, that it would go as well for your body as for your soul. When one considers the state of one's soul, as a Christian, one could only wish the same for life and health. Read more »

Aug 5

  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a text contribution Devo
    "But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit," - the antidote to heretical, passion-driven, authority-hating life is faith and prayer. "keep yourselves in the love of God," - Don't forget your love of God and fall into love of self. "waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life." - There is a mercy that leads to eternal life. Thank you, God, for the forgiveness of sins through Je… Read more »

Aug 4

  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a text contribution Devo
    "But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ." - The arrival of these heretics should not be surprising. The apostles foresaw it. "They said to you, In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions. It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit." - The heretics follow their passions instead of the Spirit of God. I wonder if that is the essence of their heresy. Application: How… Read more »
  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a text contribution Devo
    "These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires;" - Discontent and complaining is the result of sinfulness. Sinful desires, even when satisfied, do not satisfy. "they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage." - You would think they would be secret about their sin, but no longer. They have passed the point of inventing sin to the point of boasting in their sin. Read more »

Jul 31

  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a text contribution Devo
    "It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all" - Enoch essentially prophesied the flood! "and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness" - bad people do bad things... "that they have committed in such an ungodly way," - ...in bad ways. Sin is so thoroughly a part of the apostate's life that it laces everything they are an… Read more »

Jul 29

  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a text contribution Devo
    "These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear," - these guys should be fearful because their nearness to the church is a nearness to the God whom they are offending, and who has both authority and ability to destroy them eternally. "shepherds feeding themselves;" - They are selfish, claiming the mantle of leadership and care but only looking out for themselves. "waterless clouds, swept along by winds;" - again, they feign nourish… Read more »

Jul 25

  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a text contribution Devo
    "Woe to them!" - They are cursed. May they be cursed. "For they walked in the way of Cain" - Jealousy overtook them. "and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error" - He was at least considering the option of cursing the Israelites against the Lord's command for the sake of gaining riches. "and perished in Korah's rebellion." - Korah, too, assumed his own holiness and refused to submit to the authorities that God had pla… Read more »
  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a text contribution Devo
    "But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand," - These people lack submission to authority, and that makes them ignorant. They are no longer acting through reason, but instead through the flesh. "and they are destroyed by all that they," - And this will destroy them. That is the sad part. They don't even realize it, but they are heading into ruin. "like unreasoning animals," - They have stopped thinking rationally. They have thrown off the God… Read more »

Jul 21

  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a text contribution Devo
    Jude 1:9 is a mysterious verse: - It doesn't refer to anything in the Bible. - The story doesn't even make sense to me. Why would an angel and the devil contend over the body of Moses? Is this referring to his body alive, or dead? - I do think I understand the point, though. The idea is that Michael, one of the greatest angels himself, wouldn't even dare to rebuke Satan, who had fallen from on high. Michael submitted to God's authority as judge instead of taking authority upo… Read more »
  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a link contribution Two Very Different Paths
    http://www.covlife.org/resources/2226334-Two_Very_Different_Paths
    This sermon by Robin Boisvert of Covenant Life Church discusses the two very different paths for life: wisdom and foolishness. Read more »

Jul 16

  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a text contribution Devo
    "Yet in like manner these people also..." - Jude is comparing these people who have crept into the churches to Sodom and Gomorrah, to fallen angels. That's rough. "relying on their dreams" - These folks were not living in reality. They were relying on their visions of what they think life should be like rather than the clear examples of God's judgment against sin. "defile the flesh" - Again, a reference to sexual immorality "reject authority"… Read more »

Jul 14

Jul 13

  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a text contribution Devo
    "And the angels..." - even the angels fear God and are subject to God and experience his judgment if they sin. "...who did not stay within their own position of authority..." - again, heresy comes when we deny our only Master (Jude 1:4) "...but left their proper dwelling..." - God has given us a "dwelling place" among the authority structure of the world. We are subject to people, our bosses, parents, government, etc. We are also under God's autho… Read more »

Jul 8

  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a text contribution Devo
    "Now I want to remind you..." - We constantly need reminders that increase our fear of God. How often I go through the day with no thoughts of God, with only thoughts of self and my own goals and my own plans and my own wants. I need to be reminded that God is watching and that he is the one and only judge. "...although you once fully knew it..." - It seems as though Jude's readership had done more than forgotten. They had also lost their confidence that God judges sin.… Read more »

Jul 3

  • davidjwilcox
    davidjwilcox added a text contribution Devo
    | "for this condemnation" - God set them aside for condemnation, and then they chose the path of heresy as well. Heresy is its own condemnation because a heretic believes a lie, and may even do so sincerely. | "ungodly people, who pervert the grace of God...and deny our only Master" - heresy, ungodliness, comes when people pervert grace and deny authority. I wonder how this came to pass there. | "into sensuality" - Unlike in Galatia, where legalism was the heresy,… Read more »