2 John (Listen)
1:1 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:
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.
4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 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. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
13 The children of your elect sister greet you.
Devotional:
This is love: that we walk according to his commands. This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: that you walk in love. (2 John 1:6)
This verse talks about God’s commandments, and in Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus answers the question of “What is the greatest commandment?” this way: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” When we love God with every fiber of our being, we then truly love people out of the overflow of our love for God. Are you walking according to His commandment, loving God and loving others today? How can you live this out in the next twenty-four hours?
Pray It: Father, thank you for loving me. Help me to love you more and to show that love through loving others whom you have made in your image, remembering that I can’t truly love you fully if I don’t love those whom you love. Amen.
Share it: Who can you share a verse or thought from this passage with today?