WALK IN LOVE
2 JOHN 1:6
THREAD: 2 John 1:6, “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.”
NARRATIVE 1 (sorta Genesis 4:1-8)
Once there was a family that had two sons. The older son was named Cain. The younger son was named Abel. Cain was a farmer who worked the soil and did well at it. He loved the outdoors and loved seeing small seeds grow into large plants. Abel, the younger brother, kept flocks and enjoyed animals of all kinds.
The day came for the family to bring offerings before God and worship Him by offering something of what they had either grown or raised or made with their hands. Each of the family members have a choice as to what to bring before God. The mother and father gathered their gifts and their offering was ready. Cain went to the trees he’d been tending and picked up the fruit off the ground and went to a leftover basket for some tubers he’d harvested two weeks before. His offering was ready. Abel slaughtered the best young goat their family had and brought the best parts of the animal and his offering was ready. The family prayed together and offered their gifts to God in worship. A sense of peace came over the mother, father, and younger brother and they knew God had accepted their offering. Cain had no sense of peace for his offering was not accepted.
It is at this point that the family has many choices. How will each of them treat Cain? What words will they say to him? What will Cain do? What will their attitudes be? They could look down on him. They could make fun of him. They could yell and be angry. They could look on him with disgust. Many things could happen. The mother and father and brother chose to say nothing. Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Cain now had choices as to what he would do and say. He could offer another gift immediately. He could learn from the situation and do better next time. He could confront his family about their silence. Instead, Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
BASIC DEFINITION OF LOVE
This morning we are talking about love. What is love anyway? Is it a feeling? An action? Some kind of chemical process in our brains? A figment of our imagination? In the Book of Genesis, human love is shown as something that is complex. Love is an action (Genesis 20:13), love is what parents feel for children (Genesis 22:2), love is what motivates marriage (Genesis 29:18), and love can also be gained and lost (Genesis 29:32). I found it interesting that even as human love is shown as complex in Genesis, Godly love is shown as simple in Exodus. In the Book of Exodus, God’s love for us is unfailing (Exodus 15:13), lasting generations (Exodus 20:6), something that abounds (Exodus 34:6). Love is a topic talked about in the Bible and is mentioned 731 times in the Old and New Testaments (NIV).
So what is love? Love is both a feeling and an action created by God in us that is a strong or constant affection and devotion for someone that comes from kinship or other personal ties. Love has many different definitions and is one of those words that have as many different definitions as the people trying to define it. Canadian poet Margaret Atwood said, “The Eskimos had fifty-two names for snow because snow was important to them: there ought to be as many for love” (The Treasure Chest, Harper Collins, 1965, pg 148). I think there are more than 52!
THREAD: 2 John 1:6, “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.”
NARRATIVE 2 (p)
Kelly and I are fortunate in the summer time to have a few weeks where all three of our kids are either gone to one place or all gone to different places. The other week two of our kids were at CIY at Johnson in Tennessee and one was at “Camp Nana” enjoying being spoiled by grandparents. Kelly and I got together for lunch at a busy restaurant that has a special on Mondays. I actually saw a few people from the church there [point out Chris if he is there] and said hello. While we were eating, a person who used to come to our church walked in and sat down with a group they were with. I was faced away from them, but Kelly was faced towards where they sat saw them come in. To make a short story even shorter, Kelly relayed something that happened while we were there. I was up filling my drink and the person got up to refill their drink as well. They got up from their table behind us to fill their drink, saw me at the machine, and turned around and sat back down. I can only assume because they didn’t want to talk to me. I got back to my table and Kelly told me what happened.
Sitting in the restaurant, I felt like I now had a choice. Now I knew they were there sitting behind me. Do I say something even though clearly the person did not wish to converse with me? Do I ignore them? Do I act like I didn’t know they were in this busy restaurant? Do I wave across the restaurant? I had choices I guess, but I wasn’t sure what to do.
I brought up this situation in our staff meeting the next day because I was still perplexed about what I was supposed to have done that was good and proper and Godly. David Booker said something that stuck with me and echoes what 2 John 1:6 says. We talked about it and he said “acting in love” is always the right thing to do. Err on the side of love and you’ll not have regrets. Love should be the motivation for us in all of our interactions with people and with all the daily choices we make.
2 JOHN 1:6 KEY WORDS
As we look at 2 John 1:6, there are three key words that jump out at us in this verse because they are the words that are repeated. The repeated words are “love,” “command(s),” and “walk.”
The word “love” used in this verse is a special word that means “brotherly love, affection, good will, benevolence” and is the word used when we think about the love that God has for us. It is the word used in Genesis 22:2 to describe the love Abraham had for his son Isaac. It is the kind of love God has for us in Hosea 14:4 even though we turn our back on Him. It is the love we are told to have for our neighbors by Jesus in Matthew 5:43. In 1 John 4:8 when the Apostle John says, “God is love” he uses this word. Love in its purest form is not flippant, not based only on the ebb and flow of emotions, and does not run out of fuel.
The word “command” or “commands” is also used in 2 John 1:6. I find this significant because the verse that we are reading is not a suggestion or a possibility among many or even a probable outcome. The verse says that we are commanded to love. It is an order, an injunction, and a requirement.
The word “walk” is also repeated in this verse and is also very significant. The word “walk” means “to make one’s way, to progress, to lead through life, and to make use of opportunities.” This is the same word to describe God in Genesis 3:8 as He was making His way through the Garden of Eden. It is the word used to describe the steps of David as he marched towards his balcony to gaze at Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:2). The word is also used to describe the actual steps of Jesus as He walked on the water (John 6:19) and used as a metaphor to describe the decision of some people to stop following Jesus in John 6:66.
The repeated words in 2 John 1:6 are “love,” “command(s),” and “walk.” What does it mean that these three words are repeated together in these verses? It means that for people who call God their God and for people who claim Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior; we have no options when it comes to love because we must act in love and have compassion for all people in all situations no matter the circumstances. Period.
NARRATIVE 3 (p)
The planning for the July 4th family gathering was going well. Judy and her husband Tom had everything planned out. Judy had the meal planned out: BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, salad, and even her mom’s often sought after Texas sheet cake would make an appearance. Tom had the activities all in order. Sparklers and some low level fireworks had been purchased. There would even be a bounce house for the little cousins and he rented an XBox for the older cousins. Every family member was invited and everyone would have a great time. People were driving in from out of state and everyone was making an effort this year to be together. Judy and Tom were thrilled.
They were thrilled until they got an unexpected phone call. Tom’s brother Sam called and asked if he could come to the gathering. Now you have to know a little about Sam to know why this would have brought stress into their lives. He has a tattoo of a naked woman on his arm and often tells dirty jokes in earshot of one cousin who is a Catholic nun. Sam also stole sentimental items willed to others from their parents’ estate and has never apologized. The years he doesn’t come to any family gatherings are good years and everyone has a good time. The years he does come are stressful for all and everyone hides their valuables and puts cotton balls in their kids’ ears. This year he says he’s turned over a new leaf and would like to come to the family gathering. Judy and Tom feel their perfect family gathering slipping away. What should they do?
THREAD: 2 John 1:6, “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.”
EVERY STEP IS A CHOICE
I was thinking more about the word “walk” in 2 John 1:6 and its meaning for us. Walking is quite an accomplishment for any little toddler. In fact, the name we give to the ages of one to three when we learn to walk means “to walk unsteadlily” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toddler)… that’s what “toddler” means. It is a milestone of growing up and physical health. When we get older and walking is a problem, this often signals the loss of health and other milestones we probably rather not think about.
What does it take to walk? It takes balance and coordination and the working together of joints and bones and ligaments. I think we all understand that… but at its very basic without complicating it… walking is putting one foot in front of the other. One foot. Then another. One foot. Then another. Putting one foot in front of the other is what we cheer when toddlers do it. Walking is a basic necessity and ability of life and so when someone does not have that ability, we call them dis-abled. Walking enables us to have choice. A toddler can move from one toy to another. A child can go from one room to another. Adults can move between activities. We can stay where we are or we can go. Depending on our choices, our feet take us wherever we want to go.
This process of walking is so basic that is also can become a common metaphor that many people can understand. We talk about the Christian life in terms as our “Christian walk” or when someone is oblivious perhaps they are “walking with their head in the clouds.” “Walk” is be a metaphor for life and the directions we take.
It occurs to me that every step we take is a choice. Our feet take us to places or away from places. Every step we take is a choice. Keeping that in mind, what does 2 John 1:6 tell us? This verse tells us to “walk in love.” Through the Apostle John, God is commanding us that every step we take in life should be taken in love.
Love should motivate our steps.
Love should help us decide where to step and how to step.
Love should give us directions of where we should go.
Jesus teaches us the very same thing. Jesus commands us that we are to be people who constantly err on the side of love and treat those around us with love. Jesus says…
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… “ (Matthew 5:43)
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39)
“Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.” (Luke 6:35)
“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
“This is my command: Love each other.” (John 15:17)
NARRATIVE 4 (p)
The other day I went to our local Wal-mart for some much needed grocery shopping. As I went in, I noticed a homeless fellow hanging out to the right of the door. I know he is homeless because I have seen him before, he has been to our church, and so I recognized him. I noticed two things about him right before I went into the store. I first noticed that he did not have any shoes. He had all his other clothes, but did not have any shoes and his feet were dirty and it looked as though he had not had shoes for several days at least. I secondly noticed a bag in his hands with long silver cans which I assumed based on what I know of him and the length of the cans were 24 oz beer cans.
As I was doing shopping inside the store, he kept coming back to my mind. I passed the shoe section at Wal-Mart which has a section on the end with flip flops that are under $10. I can afford a $10 pair of flip flops. I would cause me no great financial stress to pick up a pair of flip flops while in the store and hand them to him on my way out. Then I remembered the beer cans. Obviously he had some source of money and chose to buy beer instead of shoes.
I chose not to get any shoes.
I am here today to confess that the decision I made was an error. I am not sure yet if it was a sin, but I was convicted that I did not act in love. He was indeed still outside the store when I exited and it would have been loving and compassionate to hand him a pair of shoes and walk away. I did not do that. I took a step towards being judgmental. I stepped and did the “normal” worldly thing. I did not take a step in love. I did not take the step and make the decision that Christ would have had me make.
THREAD: 2 John 1:6, “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.” This verse commands us to walk in love always. Period.
SUMMARY
In the argument you are having with your sibling, act in love.
In the friction you are having with your child, say the loving words.
In the unsure situation you are in socially, err on the side of love.
In the family situation that causes you stress, decide to act in love.
Face up to your mistakes and act in love.
When faced with a choice with a stranger, do the loving thing.
CONCLUSION
