True Joy
2 John 1:5 says, “And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.”
John was writing this letter “unto the elect lady and her children” (v. 1), who were evidently members of a local church. He reminded her of the Lord Jesus Christ’s commandment to “love one another” (Jn 13:34). Because when we love and obey the Lord, He promised to abide with us forever through the Holy Ghost (Jn 14:16)! The primary purpose of keeping the Lord’s commands is to safeguard us from “many deceivers” (v. 7). They are everywhere in the world today – infiltrating the public education system and universities.
They even “crept in unawares” (Jude 1:4), in many bible-believing churches! When we have truly trusted Jesus as our Lord and Savior (Rom 10:9), He promised to keep us secured in His hand (Jn 10:28); and that He “will perform it until the day” (Php 1:6), of His second coming (Rev 1:7). We shall never lose our salvation! But when we stop obeying God, we may lose “those things which we have wrought” (v. 8); such as our testimony (1 Pet 2:12), our rewards (1 Cor 3:15), our health (Job 10:11), and even the joy of our salvation (Ps 51:12).
Joy is a result of having a right relationship with God. Therefore, we should no longer be comfortable around anything that is sinful because we have been made new creatures “in Christ” (2 Cor 5:17). We cannot even live in any type of backslidden condition and expect to have that “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pet 1:8). Sin will always trouble the child of God (Ps 38:6). If true joy is missing in your life, then most likely something has gotten between you and the Lord. You must confess your sins (1 Jn 1:9), and ask God to restore that sweet fellowship so you can regain a heart that rejoices in His salvation (Ps 13:5). Then you can once again “love one another” as Jesus loved us! God bless you!
-Pastor Melito Barrera
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