Friday after the Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on October 23, 2020 by under
Scripture: 2 John 1-13 (NKJV)
1 The Elder,
To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, 2 because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received a commandment from the Father. 5 And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. 6 This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
12 Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
13 The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.
Devotion
Love one another. It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? Then why does John have to reiterate this command again? Because while “love one another” is simple, it isn’t easy. All Christians live with the sinful flesh and the inborn desire to sin. The flesh is selfish and self-serving. The sin that dwells in us does all it can to thwart our love for one another. The flesh tries to distract us from loving others with its lusts, its desires, and its concern only for itself. We need the continuous reminder to love one another.
How do we love one another? “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.” Each of the Ten Commandments show us what love for our neighbor is. We love others by helping them in every bodily need. We love our spouses by being chaste and giving our heart only to them. We love one another by helping others retain their property and income. We love one another by defending them and speaking well of them. We love one another by being content with what God has given us and helping others appreciate what God has given them. Within the Ten Commandments there are countless ways to love one another. When we transgress the law of love, we are to confess our sins and receive His forgiveness, then return to our vocations with renewed love for those around us.
Prayer: O Almighty and Most Merciful God, of Thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech Thee, from all things that may hurt us, that we, being ready, both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things that Thou wouldst have done; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
