Watch yourselves, so
that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full
reward.
2
John 1:8 ESV
In this
verse John warns his readers to watch themselves. Watch themselves in
what way? Watch yourselves that you don't lose what you have in
Christ. Don't lose your salvation, don't lose your reward in heaven.
When we
begin our walk in Jesus, it is just that the beginning. Our walk in
Christ is a lifetime endeavor. John isn't just writing to new
Christians he is writing to all Christians, even those that have been
in the faith for a long time. All of us no matter how long we have
been in Christ must watch ourselves. We must watch our hearts and
what we allow to enter them.
No one
really falls away from Christ and His body overnight. Falling away
comes from listening to lies, the lies of the world, the lies of
false teachers. Over time when lies are heard enough or told enough
they become believable. That is when the process of walking away from
all that we worked for begins. Just like walking in Christ has a
beginning, so does walking away from Christ.
Influences
in our lives are what shape us as individuals. We need to watch what
influences us. If we allow Jesus and His teachings to influence us we
will walk in His ways. Conversely, if we allow the world and its
teaching to influence us we will walk in its ways. There is no middle
ground.
So
today, let's watch ourselves so that we are aware of how we are being
influenced. Take the time today think of what your influences are,
are they the influences that will lead to your full reward or are
they something that will bring you up short of that goal?
© 2013
Leo J. Woodman
