Love Is Not Blind
Opening Prayer
Gracious Lord God, I want to learn more of Your ways today so that I might better follow them.
Read 2 John 1:1-13
[1] The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth-and not I only, but also all who know the truth- [2] because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: [3] Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. [4] It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. [5] 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. [6] And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. [7] I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. [8] Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. [9] Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. [10] If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. [11] Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work. [12] I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. [13] The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What command(s) do you see repeated from John's first letter?In this little letter, the shortest book in the entire Bible, John insists that love should not be blind. Love for God means living in–and living out–the truth that finds its most perfect expression in the person and saving work of Jesus Christ. As John sees it, if we desire to “live in love,” there are at least two consequences. One is obedience (compare v. 6 with John 15:10 and 1 John 5:3): love for God must be turned into concrete action (see also Rom. 12:9-13; 1 John 3:16-18). The other is discernment, exercised towards teachers and the teaching they bring. The instruction not to welcome spurious teachers into one’s house (10) meant not giving them an opportunity to spread their ideas. Remember that the early church met mostly in private homes and didn’t own church buildings. The gospel can be compromised not only by those who deny its core truths (7), but also by those who add to them (9). Often, the false are worldly minded, seeking either power, money or both (7). Today, many modern societies insist that tolerance is the way to live. But while tolerance is blind, genuine Christian love is not.
Apply
Think through some situations where you find it difficult to hold love and truth together. How does this letter help?
Closing prayer
Ask God for a genuine love that is eager to love others, but is not blind to falsehood and deception.
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