2nd John
I’m terrible at keeping deadlines. It’s always been a struggle for me. I forget that something is due or a project needs to be done or a errand needs to be run, and before I know it, I’ve already missed my chance of doing it in time. Oh, how the ADHD does plague me…but this goes beyond just remembering tasks to be a productive person. This complacency and laziness can work its way into my relationships and even my faith.
Get College Ministries of VA’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
As we crack open the teeny tiny book of 2nd John, our author brings back a simple, yet challenging message. He writes:
And now I ask you, dear lady (referring to the Church) — not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning — that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. (2nd John 5–6 ESV)
This isn’t the first time that John has written this commandment, in fact in his gospel he quotes Jesus saying,
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. (John 13:34–35 ESV)
I know I’m not the only one who needs reminders. In fact, there are multiple points throughout the day that my wife or my co-ministers text me reminding me of things that need to be done. I think John, in his day, is sending his 140-character tweet, reminder text message to the church and saying, “hey, you remember that thing Jesus commanded us to do? yeah, love each other…we should keep doing that thing.”
Friends, as this letter was a reminder to the church long ago, may it remind you today that Jesus’ love should flow out of you. His love is lavished upon us, and if we are proper vessels of his love, that overflow should pour over into all those around us. I pray for you that Jesus’ love is something that you find to be constantly in your thoughts, and that you see others as receivers for that love… even when it’s hard, even when you don’t want to, even when you forget.
