2 John: How to Love God

Introduction

Someone might ask, “How to love God”. Well, he tells us plainly in his word exactly how to love him. This blog focuses an aspect of Our Lord and Savior’s expectations of how to love him. The journey to follow Christ is so very important and critical in order to align ourselves with God eternal. This search for him led us to 2 John. This episode makes it clear If we want to love God, we must follow his commandments and love one another. We read the chapter as well as discussed how hard this could be in today’s society. It is easy to love your wife or family, but when someone treats you badly, it is much harder. We don’t have it all figured out but we definitely like getting into the good book to see what it has to say about what we should be doing to love God. Below is the transcription of our podcast conversation, as well as our embedded video. We hope that you may become inspired and take a step closer to the one who can actually save your soul. Please enjoy and be sure to weigh in on the matter if you’d like to join the conversation.

John 2: How to Love God Transcription

Derek: This is Derek Curry II, I’m here with my lovely wife Mikki.

Mikki: “Well hello Everyone.”

Derek: “There she is! [laughter] Oh my goodness, oh my goodness! What an awesome day! So we just thank the Lord this morning. Today we’re gonna read from the English Standard Version, 2 John. And this is our own little personal bible study, but we thought we’d let you all in on it too so. Says: 1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love. 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. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. 12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 13 The children of your elect sister greet you. Derek: “God blesses the reading of His word. That’s second John, uh that’s second John right there, it is, its second John. It’s just one little chapter, all on its own. It’s right after first John and its right before third John.” Mikki: “Amen, and you know what, when I was looking at that second John, I was looking for a chapter. The first time I saw it. I was like what, where’s the…? I guess its…. Then I looked and I realized it was just one. But um, I take from the scriptures about the commandment that we love one another. And that is how, we abide by and follow God’s principles, is abiding by His commandments. That’s what I took from that. That we should love one another. Is that so hard?” Derek: “Well, you know, there’s a certain challenge with that. It’s a, its a wrestle. You know what I mean? We gotta…you know… its a, its a struggle. Uh, and he says that, he says that: “and I ask you…he says and 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.” So he’s saying, I’m not writing you anything new, I’m writing you right now about the commandment we’ve always had. That we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment. So this is love comma, that we walk according His commandments. So this is love. What 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. So, so I mean… its kind of like… I don’t know. I mean, I’m not… I don’t profess to be so deep, but…I mean. The commandment. The love, is to follow His…and He says…. Where is that scripture? “Those who love me keep my commandments.” That’s in Matthew right?” Mikki: “Yes.” Derek: So, um…look it up right there on that…see which one that is. But He says um…the commandment. The commandment is to love and the commandment is to keep His commandments as well. You know what I’m saying? So its very interesting. Where are you? What you? Which one you on? Here let me look at it. I was gone use this… Mikki: There it is. Derek: Oh! If you love me keep…that’s John 14. John 14:15. “If you keep my commandments you shall abide in my love. If you love me keep my commandments. Mikki: “And you know what’s the…this is the funny thing about it. I think about loving. It’s easy to love like your husband whom you’re in love with. It’s easy to love your own children. I mean so when you think about love, “Oh that’s easy!” Well, is it hard to love when maybe someone doesn’t treat you right? Or treat you with the respect you feel like you deserve? Or gets in a fight with you? Or steals your money? Or anything like that. That’s where… in my opinion…that’s my opinion. That’s the part where its hard to love. Cuz we’re to love on another.” Derek: It is. It is. It is. And um, it is, it is. It is hard, because…and then, like… It’s hard because, we are angry. A lot of people are angry. A lot of people hold anger. I be angry. You know what I’m saying? People be angry.” Mikki: Yeah, or you wanna pay somebody back… Derek: But, but, but you know what? I’m not big on revenge or paying people back, but sometimes like… Like in the situation with who we were talking about earlier. Sometimes I feel like: Well this has just been going on for years. So I’m over it. You know, you know what I mean? Mikki: Yes. Derek: You know, um but its interesting too cause as I’m looking at this website. This is activechristianity.org. I dunno. This is the website you went to. I would’ve gone to like Biblegateway or something. But, it says: God commands us to put away all bitterness. Look at, listen to this. This is a, this is a good word though. God commands me to put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking. Mikki: Mmmmmmmm,mmmm! Now… Derek: That’s Ephesians 4:31. Mikki: Ooh! Ephesians 4:31, now see the evil speaking. So you can’t speak ill will of someone. So you shouldn’t. Derek: “Ah yeah, no listen. Listen to what this author is saying. “If whether I’m doing road construction, flipping burgers or providing life-support for a gravely ill person, if I get angry with my coworker in the middle of it, I have come outside of God’s will.” Mikki: Mmm. Derek: So that’s interesting…just to…that’s… Mikki: So if you get angry…so he’s saying that… I’ve already come outside of God’s will. I’m already peed Derek: Yeah, yeah. Put away all, put away all wrath, all wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and that…all bitterness. Put away all bitterness! Mikki: Ooh! Derek: Wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking and, and that’s obviously anathema or antithetical to love. Mikki: Uh-huh, and just think, some people are good at holding their bitterness. Maybe not even showing it on their face they just kind of hold resentment towards other people and I think people can definitely relate to that. So what we have to realize, when we’re doing that, we’re holding on to that anger or the issues that this person caused in your life…and you’re holding to it even though you didn’t do it. You did not cause it, you’re still not in the will of God. This is because God says you gotta put away that stuff. Uh-huh, and you have to love! It goes back to that commandment… Derek: And on the inside! Mikki: Yes! Derek: And on the inside! Mikki: That’s where you harbor that bitterness, is the inside. Derek: Yeah he says, he says these commandments and for the most part…this the author. I don’t know who wrote this but its activechristianity.org. But this, this person says uh…In the new covenant God writes his commandments in my heart. And for the most part these commandments have to do with my inner life, not my outward circumstances. In this way, whether I am married or single no matter where I work or live, obedience to God’s word is the most important thing. On the inside! So…and if anybody is teaching other than this, that person is a deceiver. And that’s, and that’s what uh, and that’s what John is saying here too. “Just as you have heard from the beginning so that you should walk in it.” You know, 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. Mikki: So, meaning. If you go to the church every Sunday, you go to bible every Wednesday, you go to your choir rehearsal and your dedicated to your your church that you attend, yet you hold and you harbor hate in your heart against someone. You’re doing all that in vain. You’re doing it all in vain when your hold, cause your, we’re not following His commandments and if we’re not following God’s commandments, then that’s a problem. I mean, woe be unto us that just continue to do stuff that just goes against God’s word. So we, we have to really guard ourselves against bitterness and hate and strife and pay you back and get you back and you know all the things. And we have to just lay it at God’s… Derek: You always talking about get you back. That’s big on your…that’s big on your list ain’t it? Mikki: Yes! Cause that’s how people think! People think like that. You did this to me, I’ma do it to you. I can’t wait to get you back! I mean you know and that’s kind of…or pay you back! Derek: People do. Mikki: Get revenge. That’s another word. Another way of putting it. So… Derek: Listen, listen and in light of you saying all that listen to verse eight. Because this little chapter has thirteen verses. Listen to verse eight. “Watch yourselves! So that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. A full reward. You know? Man, whoever, everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. Mikki: This is from God. So what I was saying, just to even like the whole motions of doing good…let’s not just be busy. We gotta make sure that we’re really connected. And the way we’re connected is to follow His commandments. Which brings me to my next point. Next time we come on we should talk about those commandments since they’re so important to follow. Derek: We can talk about that. I love this, this is a new podcast. I love this about my wife is looking me right in my eyes! She is having a great time! So, so anyway. We’re gonna wrap it up. Mikki: Yes Derek: This is fun Mikki: Uh thank you, have a blessed day!

Conclusion

Thank you so much for tuning in. Be sure to leave a comment below on your thoughts about this subject. Remember, we are all striving to be better followers of his word. Be strong and remember to keep pressing towards the mark! Derek & Mikki Curry

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