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2007-03-20 issue:

To those beloved by God and one another

A Grace and Truth column

by Elaine Bryant

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God’s love and care for humankind—individually and corporately—and our being called the beloved of God is justified by the well-known words of John 3:16. The Son, who was given, gave us a “new commandment” before he gave his life for our salvation from condemnation. That commandment in John 13:34 was taken seriously by the apostle John, as shown by words in a letter to his friend Gaius: “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as you soul prospers” (3 John 2, NJK).

John’s words came to mind one morning as I thought of people I have been privileged to hear about, meet and interact with in the Mennonite church over the last 19 years.

The love in John 3:16 and alluded to in 3 John is not only a matter of warm, benevolent feelings from God or other humans but of God giving us wisdom, truth and grace—through the Lord Jesus and Christ-conformed Scriptures—in regard to the realities of life on earth with those who are not always loving. Three such realities are found in John 10:10 (NJK) and 16:33 (NJK): “The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” and, “In the world you will have tribulation,” but “be of good cheer” because Jesus has overcome the world.

I have asked about being of good cheer in the  midst of tribulation. A helpful answer has been the Lord’s overcoming the world and the pain of crucifixion and pangs of death that made possible the sending of the Spirit of Truth. With the help, leading and teaching of the Holy Spirit about wisdom for overcoming, we can experience joy, peace and victory in spite of satanically orchestrated or ignorantly generated troubles, heartaches and pains.

Ways and wisdom for overcoming can be derived from principles associated with the Scriptures. Paul put it this way in Romans 15:4 (NJK): “Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience [perseverance] and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope [i.e. confident expectation].”

Since the Lord’s words during his battle with satanic temptations after his baptism came from Deuteronomy and because of other helpful passages from that book, I studied it in the New Spirit-Filled Life Bible. Principles and insights from that study make up a “loving message to those beloved by God,” including me.

In that Bible’s “Truth-in-Action” on “Guidelines to Gaining Victory” are these words: “By studying warfare in the Old Testament, we can gain important principles that can be applied to any present spiritual conflict in which we find ourselves. … From both the triumphs and the defeats, we can learn how to walk in victory.”

The section “Growing in Godliness” includes the following: “Deuteronomy explains God’s covenant to a new generation—one on the brink of going forward to take their inheritance. In its lessons, today’s believers will find the challenge to renew their commitment to remain holy and to love, honor, serve and cleave only to the Lord [rather than materialism or the god of forces].”

That same section includes words of warning: “Guard your heart so that you do not become complacent in prosperity.”

 In light of the divisions in this nation and in the church of Jesus along economic, political and racial/ethnic lines, this article and suggestion for the reading of the verses noted and heeding of the associated principles are part of this writer’s desire and prayer like that of the apostle John for his friend.

Elaine Bryant is pastor emeritus at Englewood Mennonite Church in Chicago.