Today's encouragement comes from 2 John, v. 10, where we read these words:
"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him."Wow, these are interesting words from the tender and sensitive "apostle of love," (John). Are not sweet and kind Christian people to listen to anyone, and everyone? Are we not be be open to any particular “take" on anyone’s “gospel"? Actually, no. True Christian love says, “If you are coming to my house with a false gospel of works, or law, or whatever, you have no welcome here."
Does this mean that believing churchmen do not try to reach these lost peo-ple? No, it does not mean that. But here is the rule by which we are to handle them: we inform the false gospel proselytizer that he must listen to us first; and then we can determine, from his response to us, whether or not we will give him a hearing.
[Puritan quote of the day: "A great part of the pleasure and delight of the Christian life is made out of the observations of Providence.” —John Flavel, in, "The Mystery of Providence"]
