2 John 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.
Yesterday's journey into 2 John 5 was around the word ASK and if we're using our ears to genuinely listen to God's Word. Today we stayed in the same verse, but we come to extremely familiar territory, LOVE ON ANOTHER.
John once again points out we are commanded to love one another. He also makes clear this is not a brand-new commandment he's talking about here, it's something God directed way back in Leviticus 19:18 and 19:34.
Leviticus 19:18 --- You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
Leviticus 19:34 --- You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
Jesus even confirms in Matthew 22:36-39 that it is the second greatest commandment in the law.
Matthew 22:36-39 --- “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
So, it was given as a commandment way back, Jesus not only confirms it's the second greatest of all commandments, but He lived it out perfectly, giving us an example of what it looks like. Then, He takes these old commandments and makes them into a new, deeper one for us.
John 13:34-35 --- A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
It's the same commandment but now we've been given an example of what that truly looks like. Need to know how to love others, just read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and follow Jesus. Listen to every word He says. Watch every step and action He takes. You'll start to understand what it is and why we so desperately must abide in Him and He in us to be able to love others this way.
I end today's journey with some words from Warren Wiersbe's commentary in regard to being commanded to love.
"Is it possible to command love? Yes, when you understand what Christian love really is. Many people have the mistaken idea that Christian love is a feeling, a special kind of “religious emotion” that makes us reach out and accept others. Certainly emotion is involved, but basically, Christian love is an act of the will. It simply means treating other people the same way God treats you! In fact, it is possible to love people that we really do not “like.”
We may not be able to will our affections at all times, but we can will our attitudes and actions. When people are rude to us, we can be kind in return. When people persecute us, we can pray for them and, when the opportunity comes, do good to them. If we followed our feelings, we would probably retaliate! But if we ask the Spirit to control our wills, then we can act toward them as Jesus would have acted, in Christian love."
Have a blessed day today. Be the Berean, be courageous and jump into your own journey with God through in His Word!
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