Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 John 1:4-6.

“I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father.  Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which 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, that you should walk in it.”  2 John 1:4-6.

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Here are three senses in which “this is love, that we walk according to His commandments.”

First, God loves us, so He causes us to walk according to His commandments.  

“We love, because He first loved us.”  1 John 4:9.  

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”  1 John 4:10.  

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”  Ezekiel 36:26-27.  

“and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, …”  1 Thessalonians 3:12.

“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”  1 John 4:16.  

“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments;  and His commandments are not burdensome.”  1 John 5:3.

Second, we show our love to God by walking according to His commandments.

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”  John 14:15.

“You shall therefore love the Lord your God, and always keep His charge, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments.”  Deuteronomy 11:1. 

“Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  Joshua 22:5.

Third, we show our love to one another by walking according to His commandments.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  John 13:34-35.

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. ” 1 John 5:2.

“For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”  Galatians 5:14.