SCRIPTURE:
“And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.”
2 John 1:5
OBSERVATION:
We don’t know who the “dear lady” John addresses is, perhaps it was a specific person, group of people or a church. Nonetheless, the message he sends is clear – He asks that they love one another. This isn’t the first time he calls them to love each other (John 13:35).
APPLICATION:
There’s a watching world out there and it’s often said that we may be the only Bible anyone ever reads. While we can speak about love, teach about love and preach about love, it will be pointless if others don’t see us put that love in action. People will listen to what we say, but they will watch what we do.
While it’s easy to love those who love us back, the true measure will be found in how we love others when they come against us (Luke 6:32-36). After a certain point, when the feelings fade, we find it to be less of an emotion and really more of a choice. Ask anyone who has been married for more than a few years and they will confirm that love is indeed a choice!
There have been people in my life who I have been close to who have treated me poorly. I’m believing that it was not intentional, but in those moments it can become EXTREMELY easy to make the choice NOT to love them. To walk away, to leave and be done with them. Yet, we find this required of us – to love one another.
In moments like these, we will need to choose. What will we choose to do? Will we choose to love or not? I’ve heard it said this way – Love people until they ask you why. When they do, it can open the door of permission to share about Christ. How His love saved us, how His love endures for us and how His love compels us to become more and more like Him each and every day.
I need to make the choice daily to love people, even when I don’t feel like it.
PRAYER:
Father Almighty. Forgive me Lord for times when I have chosen not to love others because of things they have done to me. Thank You Lord for the reminder to love one another. When I don’t feel like loving the unlovable, would you help me to do so Lord, this I pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
