2 John 1:5-6  Greetings from the Elder.

To the lady chosen by God and to her children.

I truly love all of you. And I am not the only one. All those who know the truth love you in the same way.  We love you because of the truth—the truth that lives in us. That truth will be with us forever. Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from his Son, Jesus Christ, as we live in truth and love.  I was very happy to learn about some of your children. I am happy that they are following the way of truth, just as the Father commanded us.  And now, dear lady, I tell you: We should all love each other. This is not a new command. It is the same command we had from the beginning.  And loving means living the way he commanded us to live. And God’s command is this: that you live a life of love. You heard this command from the beginning.

This could have been written to you or me, a letter from John the beloved who simply wrote, “Greetings from the Elder.” To the ‘lady’ and her children chosen by God. That’s us right there, chosen. Chosen for what, you ask? Chosen to live a life of love. Why us and why now? Why is love so important that Paul would write about it to what seems to be a very loving and hospitable woman. I believe it was to remind us all of what our life should look like.

The dictionary defines love as; a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. The love that Jesus commanded us to walk in is unconditional, which is the picture of God as he gave his Son to die on the cross for the sins of the world, those who crucified him and those of us who were yet to be born. I don’t know about you, but I’m not there yet. I pray that I will be someday, but I don’t love like that yet.  

Why am I so stuck on love? It’s the center of the gospel, or should be. It’s the foundation of everything Christian, every principle Jesus taught, everything created, all about love.  Jesus said I’m to love and to give that love to everyone I come in contact with, even those who do me wrong, abuse me, talk about me. I’m to love sinners. Yes, Jesus was a friend of sinners. He didn’t come to save those who were safe but to put out a hand to those who were drowning. You don’t need a life jacket if you’re not in the water, right?

Love doesn’t look the other way when they see a homeless woman sitting alone on a park bench crying. Love sits next to her, holding her hand and telling her Jesus loved her enough to send you someone like me. Love stops to help an elderly woman cross the street even if it delays me getting to my own appointment on time. Love opens doors. Love allows the car to enter in front of me. Love smiles even when I don’t feel like smiling. Love pays the extra $5 needed in the grocery line. Love shares my lunch with someone who’s hungry. Love doesn’t look for the wrongs but covers them. Love gives everything away knowing that God will take care of me.

I want to live a life of love. When I stand before you, Lord, I want to hear you say, “Well done! You did what I asked, you loved.” I want my heart scrubbed clean of selfish ambition and lust for things. I want to love like you did, holding nothing back, keeping nothing for myself but leaving myself open to be filled with more love. Your love. I don’t want to over complicate what you simply said to do, “Love the Lord with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself.” Help me to overflow with your love as I seek your face, to be sensitive to your voice and follow your leading.