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Beloved Brothers and Sisters in our Lord,

I was a bit amused some time ago when I saw a television commercial promoting a device that enables you to pack and store large things in very small spaces. It consisted of some sort of a vacuum tube that you would attach to a special bag filled with clothes, linens, or other such things. Once the device was activated, the air would be suctioned from the bag, reducing it to just a fraction of its original size.  Thick quilts, for example, could be shrunk down to the size of a small lap-top computer, and stacks of clothing reduced to something akin to little pancakes. How clever! With a little ingenuity, you can pack a mountain of things in a small space!

In 2 John 1:3 we find one blessed verse in this little New Testament ‘postcard’ that reminds me of that old TV commercial.  Now, to be sure, verse 3 sounds fairly plain.  We encounter words that we are very familiar with, and we have read similar things at the beginning of other New Testament letters.  On first glance, this appears to be your ‘normal’ greeting—what we have come to expect in first century letters.  But what we actually find here, packed tightly into the 23 words of this verse, is anything but mundane!  Once we ‘open’ it, we discover a literal mountain-sized collection of inspired truths that both enlighten and encourage us.  For example, just think of the unfathomable depth of words such as “grace,” “mercy,” “peace,” “God,” “the Father,” “Jesus Christ, “the Father’s Son,” “truth,” and “love.”  Each word and phrase could be the subject of a hundred sermons, and even then not the half would be told!

For the next few Sundays we are going to dig down deep into this one tightly compressed verse of Scripture. There is a reason John begins his Second Epistle with such a power-packed affirmation.  And as we explore this verse, we will discover that the beloved Apostle is showing us the One True Source for all of salvation’s blessings, summarized and condensed as that beautiful tripartite collection of terms, “Grace, mercy, and peace.”  Our focus this coming Lord’s Day will be upon the Divine Source itself—“from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son.”

For those of you who would like a little ‘homework’ to better prepare you for Sunday’s message, let me suggest that you trace the word “Father” (as applied to God) in the writings of John (the Gospel, the three Epistles, and Revelation).  A beautiful and most comforting picture will emerge, guaranteed!

Before signing off, let me express to you how much I value your faithful and kind prayers.  So many of you have assured me that you are praying for our Church, for her Officers, and for the ministry of the Word.  To know that you are lifting me up before our Father is the greatest comfort I could ever have. Your prayers are indispensable, and through them the Lord is both strengthening and encouraging me in His good work.  I can’t thank you enough, nor can I properly express how much I love you all!

I can’t wait to see you on Sunday!

Love,

Mike