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2 John 1
John gives a command and a warning. What are they? Though Peter and Paul both mention it in their letters, it is John who really grabs hold of Jesus’ command to His disciples to love one another. John stresses this point as fundamental to our salvation. Remember the chain of connection – we are in Jesus and Jesus is in God, therefore God is in us. Thus, if we do not love fellow believers, we do not love God, because God is in them. If we love them, however, we are obeying God’s commands to love God and love people. And if we think we are obeying God’s commands but we are hurting another believer – one who is doing their best to love God themselves – in doing so, then we are getting it wrong. This is in line with what Jesus showed us by healing on the Sabbath.
Just as important, I think, is to not extend this kind of love to anyone who is working to break the chain. If we welcome such people, John says that we share in their wicked work. (See verse 11). Does this mean we are to hate such people who oppose God by actively spreading false teachings? Remember love and hate can mean a lot of different things. And since love indwells us, I believe we should always demonstrate the attributes of love. So I guess I’d say that we are to love those who are outside the truth differently than those who are in it, and those who oppose the truth differently still. But we should absolutely hate what they are doing and be careful not to take part in it in any way.
2 Chron. 27-28
The Chronicler notes that Jotham walked steadfastly before God and did what was right in His eyes. Yet he used only 9 verses to describe Jotham’s life. Furthermore he notes, “The people, however, continued their corrupt practices.” (2 Chron. 25:2b). This brings to mind Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 3. Paul states that Jesus is the foundation of the gospel message but that how we build on that foundation will be tested by fire. “If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved – even though only as one escaping through the flames”. (1 Cor. 3:14-15). Paul may be specifically referencing those who teach in this passage, but in a way we all teach in how we live out our lives. So I see Paul’s words as something of a statement of our influence throughout our lives. What struck me about Jotham in this regard is how little he did with his high position and Godly life.
Jotham deserves some credit, though, because there is no record of his falling away from God. Yet in his case, a Godly king did not equate to a Godly kingdom. He seemed content to live his own life for God without concern for what happened to those around or under him. Sadly, I see far too much of my own life in that statement. Maybe I’m okay with entering God’s presence by the skin of my teeth, as Paul described. But maybe I shouldn’t be. Obviously not all of us will be kings and leaders. But I think we all have a responsibility to take whatever God has given us and do our best to build with it.