SCRIPTURE: 2 John 1:1-13
OBSERVATION:
John is writing to a specific church (symbolically the “chosen lady and her children”), and gives greetings from a sister church (v.13). He summarizes the message as believing in Jesus as God’s Son in the flesh, and obeying the love of Jesus by loving and serving others. He warns against those who deny Jesus or do not imitate His love – and warns about having fellowship with them, i.e. treating them as if they are OK. This doesn’t rule out being gracious to them, but it does keep them on guard against their false teachings and practices.
APPLICATION:
John’s emphasis is on simple truth (not esoteric or academic information) and practical love (not in words only but in deeds). Jesus is God’s Son in the flesh – a profound mystery – not something to be studied or undertsood but something to be embraced and worshiped). Love is the heart of God’s ethic and morality, real love, practical love, love in action. We have tended to spend more time studying truth and less time practicing love. We need to reverse this tendency. I need to reverse this tendency. It is in loving, not in studying love, that God is experienced and expressed.
PRAYER:
Lord, forgive me for spending more time in my head, rather than in my hands, practically loving and serving You through others. Help me follow through on my commitment to show Your love in the Port Perry community. Amen.
In this letter, John is expressing his joy that some of the members are walking the talk. In this way we can have fellowship wih God because God is Light and if we walk in that Light we will have fellowship – knowning = doing = loving. If my daily walk is in the Source of that Light, I will have forgiveness for the failures and shortcomings of the day. In order to have fellowship means choosing godliness, walking in the Light. Yet at the same time I need to realize that I am not perfect. I need to acknowledge my sins and God will forgive and purify me. That’s His grace.
Purify my heart Lord,
Let me be as gold and precious silver.
Purify my heart Lord,
Let me be as gold, pure gold.
Refiner’s fire
My heart’s one desire is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord.
I choose to be holy,
Set apart for You my master,
Ready to do Your will.
Purify my heart Lord,
Cleanse me from my sin and make me holy.
Purify my heart Lord,
Cleanse me from my sin, deep within.