1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:12,970 Speaker 1: Life Audio Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, 2 00:00:13,810 --> 00:00:18,870 Speaker 1: a calming, scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end 3 00:00:19,090 --> 00:00:22,569 Speaker 1: each day with God's Word in your mind and on 4 00:00:22,610 --> 00:00:26,910 Speaker 1: your heart. Right after this short word from our sponsors, 5 00:00:27,370 --> 00:00:41,250 Speaker 1: we'll reflect on tonight's scripture. 2 John chapter 1. Tonight's 6 00:00:41,610 --> 00:00:46,250 Speaker 1: scripture reflection is written by Chelsea DeMatteis and read by 7 00:00:46,310 --> 00:00:53,530 Speaker 1: Leah Gerard. 2 John chapter 1. The elder to the 8 00:00:53,590 --> 00:00:56,620 Speaker 1: lady chosen by God and to her children whom I 9 00:00:56,670 --> 00:00:59,370 Speaker 1: love in the truth and Not I only, but also 10 00:00:59,670 --> 00:01:02,930 Speaker 1: all who know the truth, because of the truth, which 11 00:01:03,030 --> 00:01:06,870 Speaker 1: lives in us and will be with us forever. Grace, mercy, 12 00:01:07,010 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ 13 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 1: the Father's Son will be with us in truth and love. 14 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,120 Speaker 1: It has given me great joy to find some of 15 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,059 Speaker 1: your children walking in the truth. just as the Father 16 00:01:22,100 --> 00:01:25,699 Speaker 1: commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing 17 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:28,950 Speaker 1: you a new command, but one we have had from 18 00:01:28,990 --> 00:01:33,130 Speaker 1: the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And 19 00:01:33,209 --> 00:01:37,590 Speaker 1: this is love, that we walk in obedience to His commands. 20 00:01:38,970 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: As you have heard from the beginning, His command is 21 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:46,980 Speaker 1: that you walk in love. I say this because Many 22 00:01:47,060 --> 00:01:50,700 Speaker 1: deceivers who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in 23 00:01:50,740 --> 00:01:54,580 Speaker 1: the flesh have gone out into the world. Any such 24 00:01:54,660 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that 25 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: you do not lose what we've worked for, but that 26 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:07,270 Speaker 1: you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and 27 00:02:07,310 --> 00:02:10,450 Speaker 1: does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not 28 00:02:10,510 --> 00:02:14,950 Speaker 1: have God. Whoever continues in the teaching has both the 29 00:02:15,010 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 1: Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and 30 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 1: does not bring this teaching, do not take them into 31 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 1: your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares 32 00:02:27,139 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: in their wicked work. I have much to write to you, 33 00:02:30,980 --> 00:02:34,060 Speaker 1: but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, 34 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,190 Speaker 1: I hope to visit you and talk with you face 35 00:02:37,220 --> 00:02:41,350 Speaker 1: to face so that our joy may be complete. The 36 00:02:41,450 --> 00:02:45,510 Speaker 1: children of your sister who is chosen by God send 37 00:02:45,810 --> 00:02:54,210 Speaker 1: their greetings. Jesus set the ultimate example of walking in 38 00:02:54,250 --> 00:02:59,020 Speaker 1: both truth and love. We, too, are called to live 39 00:02:59,300 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: and love like Him. That feels like a tall order, 40 00:03:04,580 --> 00:03:09,940 Speaker 1: and it is. To live and love like Jesus will 41 00:03:10,020 --> 00:03:14,310 Speaker 1: cost you and me many things, but what we gain 42 00:03:14,830 --> 00:03:19,650 Speaker 1: in eternal perspective and faithful endurance is will be worth 43 00:03:19,710 --> 00:03:23,870 Speaker 1: more than anything we lose in this world. Tonight you 44 00:03:23,910 --> 00:03:26,890 Speaker 1: may hear this and feel like you cannot measure up 45 00:03:26,930 --> 00:03:29,630 Speaker 1: to such a standard. And I want to offer you 46 00:03:30,150 --> 00:03:34,750 Speaker 1: the best news. The Lord is not asking you to 47 00:03:34,790 --> 00:03:39,020 Speaker 1: be perfect. He's not holding His love on a pedestal, 48 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 1: only willing to extend it if you perform better or 49 00:03:44,020 --> 00:03:49,140 Speaker 1: act better. Loving and living like Jesus is is a process, 50 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:54,500 Speaker 1: a journey of sanctification that comes through conviction and a 51 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:59,590 Speaker 1: willing heart. It's a journey that ultimately bears fruit as 52 00:03:59,710 --> 00:04:05,070 Speaker 1: time goes on. One of the greatest followers of Jesus 53 00:04:05,110 --> 00:04:09,330 Speaker 1: we can look to who lived this balance well is Peter. 54 00:04:10,070 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: He struggled, and yet he lived fully surrendered to what 55 00:04:15,420 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: Jesus asked of him. It was his heart posture that 56 00:04:20,300 --> 00:04:25,380 Speaker 1: mattered most. He leaned in to the truth, walked in love, 57 00:04:25,540 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: and lived with the desire to be like Christ to 58 00:04:30,020 --> 00:04:35,409 Speaker 1: those he encountered. We have this opportunity too. When the 59 00:04:35,570 --> 00:04:39,750 Speaker 1: areas are revealed that need work, we work on them. 60 00:04:40,370 --> 00:04:44,570 Speaker 1: Where fruit is shown, we should celebrate seeing the good 61 00:04:44,620 --> 00:04:48,810 Speaker 1: work of Christ in our hearts. We can delight in 62 00:04:48,830 --> 00:04:52,469 Speaker 1: the pursuit of living like Jesus, even if we know 63 00:04:53,150 --> 00:05:00,380 Speaker 1: we'll fall short. Father, thank you for giving us your 64 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:03,919 Speaker 1: word to show us how to walk in truth and love. 65 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 1: Most of all, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, 66 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: to give us the perfect example of living out your 67 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:16,470 Speaker 1: call on the believer's life. Please help me as I 68 00:05:16,510 --> 00:05:20,740 Speaker 1: grow in my faith to live fully surrendered to you 69 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:24,220 Speaker 1: and what you desire of me. Help me live with 70 00:05:24,260 --> 00:05:28,180 Speaker 1: a posture of pursuit and delight in walking with you, 71 00:05:28,990 --> 00:05:32,910 Speaker 1: even when it challenges me. I pray to be a 72 00:05:32,970 --> 00:05:35,969 Speaker 1: bright light in this world, one that shines your truth 73 00:05:36,029 --> 00:05:39,630 Speaker 1: and love. Help me to have the courage to do 74 00:05:39,690 --> 00:05:43,870 Speaker 1: what pleases you over what pleases the world. Make me 75 00:05:43,970 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: more like you. In Jesus' name, amen. How did tonight's 76 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: scripture speak to you? Share your thoughts in the Your 77 00:05:56,720 --> 00:06:09,310 Speaker 1: Nightly Scripture Forum discussion. Thank you for listening to Your 78 00:06:09,450 --> 00:06:15,530 Speaker 1: Nightly Scripture. Tonight's scripture was read From the New International 79 00:06:15,589 --> 00:06:22,589 Speaker 1: Version by Biblica, all rights reserved. If tonight's episode blessed you, 80 00:06:23,550 --> 00:06:27,630 Speaker 1: be sure to follow the show on Apple Podcasts so 81 00:06:27,650 --> 00:06:33,190 Speaker 1: your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Your 82 00:06:33,290 --> 00:06:38,779 Speaker 1: nightly scripture is a production of Life Audio and Salem Media. 83 00:06:39,980 --> 00:06:58,580 Speaker 1: Thank you, and we'll see you tomorrow night. Thank you.