Love Is Walking in Obedience to His Commandments
“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.”
2 John emphasizes the close relationship between love and truth. In verse 5, the apostle exhorts us to “love one another.” However, this love is neither a mere emotional expression nor something based on human understanding. Verse 6 defines love as “walking in obedience to His commandments,” stating that only when love is practiced within God’s commandments and truth can it be made complete.
While speaking about love in the truth, the apostle also warns against false teachers and erroneous doctrines. In the early church, certain Gnostic-influenced heretical teachings that denied the incarnation of Jesus Christ were spreading.
Love that does not follow the truth can easily become distorted. Love that departs from God’s commandments often manifests as personal desire, distorted passions, or lust. Therefore, true love must be grounded in God’s Word and His commandments.
God’s love for humanity was concretely revealed through the incarnation and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. By coming in human form, suffering, and dying, Jesus demonstrated a love that abides in truth and holiness. The love of believers must mirror this essential nature of divine love. This is what it means to have love founded on truth.
Prayer: Lord, we thank You for showing us Your love by coming in the flesh and obeying to the point of death, leading us into the grace of redemption and holiness. We confess our sinfulness before the gospel of the cross that restores distorted love and empowers us to love truly. Guard us from the pride of assuming we “possess” truth, and guide us to practice sacrificial love. Fill us with Your Spirit today so that our church community may live in both truth and love. Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)
Devotional content is available on the Our Daily Bread website.