Hebrews 12-13 | 2 John | 3 John

Chapter 12 concludes by pointing to all of those great examples, with an encouragement for each of us to lay aside the sin and things that spiritually drag us down, and run our own race for Christ with perseverance.  We have become sons and daughters of the most high God, and He loves us (and disciplines us) as His own dear children.  We should each live our lives for Christ with a heart of gratitude and devotion for what He did for us, and how great His love is towards the whole world, that anyone who comes to Him can be accepted by God forever.

In all of this we are encouraged to build up godly character within each of us, loving and serving each other with integrity and faithfulness, and putting aside those sins and behaviors that used to be normal for us.

The 2nd and 3rd epistles of John are both short personal letters to individuals.  The first to an unnamed Christian lady, and the second to a disciple and friend of John’s named Gaius.  In both of these letters John provides encouragement and instruction, echoing the things written in his gospel and 1st epistle - love.  Hate what is evil and love each other as servants of Jesus Christ.  Do not accept evil doers, or those who would cause division within the body of believers.