Epistle – 2 John

Bible Passage:  2 John

In John’s second epistle to a particular church, he pleads with the brethren to love each other. Imagine John imploring and appealing earnestly to the church members… how important this commandment is!

We know a few of the many bible verses that exalts us to love each other:

“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

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

-Romans 12:9-10

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

-1 John 4:7

So do we truly practise this love for others today? (1 John 3:18)

LOVE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN SAVED

The year end evangelistic service is just round the corner. Have we invited our loved ones, families, friends and colleagues?

Or do we think, “There is still time, I could invite them for the next service…”

May God fill us with the courage to preach to our loved ones and bring them to Him.

How about the people of the world who have not heard of Jesus Christ?

Going door-to-door and preaching the gospel to complete strangers was certainly an eye opener for me.

From trying to pique the interest of affluent yuppies who are contented with their lifestyles to engaging the poor and old folks of rundown and dilapidated estates, I can’t help but feel God’s abundant grace and mercy for choosing me as part of His flock.

Pr Simon Chin’s morning Sabbath service encourages us to preach the word “in season and out of season” (2 Tim 4:2), citing examples of Peter and John addressing the Sanhedrin despite being threatened, and Peter preaching to Cornelius and his household.

We might encounter rejection and even rude remarks when we knock on people’s doors, but these experiences are nothing compared to the persecution that the apostles faced.

I remember once, there was an old lady with a fiery temper who slammed the door right into my face, but I felt good because I know I have done my part to plant the seed.

In fact, these people are pitiable because they have no inkling of the goodness of Jesus and His love.

Hence we ought to manifest the Lord’s love for others.

With this love for them, we would feel the sense of urgency to preach the gospel and let them know the truth, that they could be saved.

“The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2)

Let us do our part to plant the seeds, the Lord will do the rest.

May God open up the doors of their hearts and the door of faith.

LOVE OUR CHURCH BRETHREN

While we should love and care for those who have not been saved, let us not forget to show concern for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Sadly, we know of many who have drifted or fallen away from the church.

Most left the church not because of the truth, but due to human factors, such as unhappiness with other brethren, neglect and so on.

Yes we are the true church, but unfortunately, unlike other churches, we lack warmth and concern for others.

Let us not only continue to pray for those who left, but also try to contact them, let them know that they are still very much loved by the church. Drop them a simple sms or an email to encourage them to come back.

Reach out to them, let them know they are not forgotten.

As for truthseekers, let us do our part to make them feel comfortable. By the grace of God, there are a handful of truthseekers currently attending our church services.

But to keep them in church, we have to talk to them and get to know them better, make them feel welcomed.

One day we have to give an account to God, on what we have or have not done.

How could we bear His wrath knowing we should have done something that we did not?

May the Lord lead us to love one another deeply, serve each other and do things that please Him.

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

-1 Peter 4:8