2 John — Greeting, Walking in Truth and Love
Thoughts about serving others
This link includes a list of posts about Serving the Least, the Lost, and the Lonely.
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Let the Word evoke words. May your life encourage lives.
Just 13 verses, the Second Letter of John concisely reminds us to “walk in love” (2 John 1:6), warns us of “many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh” (v7) and to “watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for” (v8).
“Do not take them into your house or welcome them” (v10) makes me think about days of old when the house was far different than it is in our modern society. This was a time when travelers would be invited into a home for rest, food and shelter, especially traveling preachers. It was a place of refuge where neighbors were actually neighborly, who knew each other and looked after the affairs of those that lived in the same village, often multi-generations of related families. By contrast, we hardly know our neighbors these days, but this can change, and even must change if we are to provide a lasting hope for our world. One of the things I love about Organic Outreach is the way Kevin and Sherry Harney teach us to know our neighbors, to become the lighthouse for our community. We must have open doors and welcoming hearts. That doesn’t mean we accept and propagate heretical teaching (as John is addressing in verses 10 & 11), but it does mean we learn how to be those who welcome others. Perhaps this will lead to conversations about Christ and help those to get back on track or even come to Christ for the first time. Church is not something that happens on Sunday, church is a community of believers strengthening each other.
Lord give us discernment and a caring heart to welcome all who cross our paths. Help us to love one another as you have loved us.