This Day in History: 0000-08-12

August 12 – 2 John 1:5-6 & 10-11

I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another.
This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning.
Love means doing what God has commanded us, and He has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning…

If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement.
Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.

The book of 2 John is short. Just one chapter written as a letter to one woman and her children from the apostle John. This is the apostle whose theme was love. John was described as the disciple who Jesus loved, and his many writings are absolutely peppered with descriptions of love, calls to love, and reminders of God’s love.

This letter is no different. In verses five and six we find his trademark call to action, “I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another.” What comes in verses seven through eleven, though, likely seems to many of us to contradict this command. Sadly, we’ve allowed our culture and our world to define love for us instead of the Word of God.

But God expects us to boldly stand up for truth! We should never accept anyone who preaches a lesser Gospel than the one clearly laid out in Scripture. To butt that command right up against this call to love is all we should ever need to tell us obedience in this matter is simply NOT unloving. No matter how much it may feel like it is.

Will we be courageous enough to obey? Will we refuse to encourage anyone who comes into our conversations proclaiming Christ as anything less than who He has claimed to be? Will we keep our homes safe from these influences, only inviting in what is true and honorable and right? Will we be brave enough to stand out in this world, determined to live our lives in the kind of love that is obedient to God?

May we never become partners in the evil work of those who are twisting the truth! May we always stand distinctly opposed to their deceptions! May our lives proclaim the truth of the God of love.