June 9, 2020
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 2 John? Here’s today’s reading:
2 John 1 (ESV)
Greeting
1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:.........Continue Reading
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Well I guess this is a letter more like we are familiar: short and sweet! Similar themes run through it as do in 1 John: truth, love and false teachers. How important it is for us to be aware of all of these. Truth guides love in appropriate expressions and love for God can only be found in following His commands. Love has been misused in many ways that are opposed to the truth and can make God out to be someone who He is not. Our hearts are too corrupt to allow love by itself to be our guide. And yet truth by itself can become cold and uncaring. We need both to function properly and it is comforting to know God has both in complete and comprehensive ways.
And wherever there is truth there are those who corrupt the truth and oppose the things of God and Christ. We need to make sure we persevere in the truth in light of these evil influences and make sure we are not subtly supporting what is false by how we engage with falsehood and false teachers….John encourages us to be a bit unloving when it comes to our participation with false hood. No you can’t stay in my house or I can’t provide the means that support you to further falsehood. It is important for us to draw lines in the sand when it is fitting. And when someone is intentionally opposing the truth of Christ and teaching and promoting an alternate truth, that is one of those times.
Otherwise it is not really important to know who this lady is, but we. too appreciate the family of those who continue in the principles she promotes, the very thing John writes here…
John defines love for this dear lady.
I envisioned her as the little old lady who accepts her grandchildren unconditionally…which is fine, until they eat all her food, steal all her money, and turn her home into a brothel. Time for some “tough love.” And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.
John tells her to be discerning in her love and hospitality so that she is not used for the spread of a false gospel, and aiding and abetting the anti-Christ.
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.