NO BIBLE NO BREAKFAST DAILY BIBLE REFLECTIONS AND MORE

LOVE IS THE ANSWER (2 JOHN:1-6)

REFLECTION

“Love is the answer” is the theme for our reflection. Love is the unconditional affection and care first given to us by God as found in John 3:16. We are expected to show this same love to all and sundry including our enemies. On the other hand, an answer is a solution to a problem. “Love is the answer” means that love brings forgiveness, reconciliation and peace to wherever there is bitterness and division. Again, love enables us to help others who are in need. Love is a predominant theme in John’s epistles. We are greatly reminded to practice love among the Christian fellowship or church. John wrote, ”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. 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.” (2 John 1:5-6). The lady in John’s letter is a figurative language referring to the church and its members.

Beloved in the Lord, for the church to grow and remain relevant in the community love is the answer. Love is the mother of all virtues but more importantly, the love of Christ gives life to the church. It is for this reason that Jesus admonished us, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35). In other words, our faith and fellowship as believers are incomplete without the love of Christ in us.

Dear friend, if we have the love of Christ in us, we shall learn to forgive one another. Just as Jesus assures “…where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20), similarly, where two or three are gathered or fellowship, there will be issues. We shall sometimes offend one another because some are still ignorant of the Word of God and are still growing in the Lord. We who have matured in the knowledge and love of Christ must learn to forgive those who offend us in the congregation by saying “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) . Since we are not perfect, we should also learn to reflect on our actions and words and seek forgiveness from those we have offended. This is the reason we pray, “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.” (Luke 11:4).

When we learn to forgive and are also forgiven as a demonstration of Agape or Christ’s love, we shall experience reconciliation “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7). Shalom.

PRAYER
Holy Spirit let the love of Christ fill our hearts so that through love we shall experience forgiveness, reconciliation, generosity and peace in the church. Amen.