“As Jesus' Friend” [Reflections on Robert Law's Book, The Tests of Life - A Study Of The First Epistle Of John Edinburgh, T&T Clark, 1909, Chapter 3 - Awkey Bird Series]
The book, Law claims, like Gospel tome
Was by Christ’s friend – with the Jesus roamed
The roads and byways, sailed their “Sea”
Ate dinner, joshed, and had to pee.No phantom he, John here attests –
He was a man, like all the rest
“In Him, of course, we found much more;
But don’t tell me you know the score –“And all the while pass on that guff –
He was for real – His life was tough;
We saw; we heard; we joked and shoved;
This man of God, whom people loved.”Law says First Letter spells things out –
Of implications leaves no doubt
As to how Gospel record reads
First John talks “Fruit” of the Gospel’s “Seeds”.John’s teaching, laid out in his Book,
Is quite specific – take a look;
If one would check how living flows
Along those lines, John’s Letter shows –Three tests to self-check progress made,
Or mentor-progress-path you’ve laid
Out for your mentees in the faith –
Four, twelve, and seven-two – it takes –To grow a down-line to your scheme
Of living – John shows what that means
In ways of living practical,
And ways of loving tactical.So Gospel, Letter, form a set –
There’s content, then a little test;
Just like at school, though this is life
He’s speaking of – that we be light.Okay, thanks Lord for this.
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