2 John 1:4-8
4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 And now I ask you, dear lady - not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning - that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
In this short letter John states that "this is love, that we walk according to his commandments" (verse 6). Notice how the motivation to obey God's commandments is love. If we just obey out of fear or duty, then we will naturally try to find a way around the commandments. But if we obey because we love God, then it will be easier to please Him and resist temptations. Checking our motives is important, for it is easy to get led astray (thus the warning to "watch yourselves" in verse 8).
Lord, I love you and want to do Your will. Help me to obey You with a pure heart and to walk in the truth.
4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 And now I ask you, dear lady - not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning - that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
In this short letter John states that "this is love, that we walk according to his commandments" (verse 6). Notice how the motivation to obey God's commandments is love. If we just obey out of fear or duty, then we will naturally try to find a way around the commandments. But if we obey because we love God, then it will be easier to please Him and resist temptations. Checking our motives is important, for it is easy to get led astray (thus the warning to "watch yourselves" in verse 8).
Lord, I love you and want to do Your will. Help me to obey You with a pure heart and to walk in the truth.