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Day 358, or December 24th. Stand on firm ground.

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Our thoughts today come from 2 John, verse 10.

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If anyone comes to you and does not bring this

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teaching, do not take them into your house or

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welcome them. And also 3 John, verse 8. We ought

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therefore to show hospitality to such people,

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so that we may work together for the truth. And

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also Jude verse 21. Keep yourselves in God's

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love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus

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Christ to bring you to eternal life. And now

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the big picture of these three short letters.

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In this trilogy we have two very brief letters

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from John mainly about visiting preachers and

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how to deal with the good ones and the bad ones.

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Jude's letter is the only one we have from him.

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He describes himself as brother of James and

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is thought by many to be a brother of Jesus and

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brother of James who was leader of the church

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in Jerusalem as well as having a letter in the

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New Testament. Apart from a few possible references

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in Acts, and 1 Corinthians, we know nothing about

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this man, whose letter has inspired millions

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over the years, even though Martin Luther didn't

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approve of it at all. And now, our action step

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for today. Both John and Jude are very much aware

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of false teachers who are infiltrating the early

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church. John warns fellowships not to let such

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people preach, But if a sound, approved preacher

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turns up, then welcome him with open arms. Jude

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summarizes many of these warnings and advice

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by imploring believers to keep themselves in

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God's love and safe in a soundly taught fellowship.

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These words are so true for each of us today.

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There are times when we think we are strong enough

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to stand against the tide in a fellowship that's

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slipping into heresy, but sometimes we need to

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leave and seek security amongst God's people

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in another fellowship. It's hard, but sometimes

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necessary. It's the same when your gifting is

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not in tune with your fellowship. Listen to God

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carefully. It may be time to move on.