This book is written by John the Elder to a house church that seems to be led by a woman. He praises her for her staunch faith and clear upbringing of her children in the faith.

He encourages the believers in her house church to continue to walk in love and obedience to God's commands. When we make love our aim and humbly obey Jesus' command to do so, we can remain faithful to him.

Next, he cautions her house church not to welcome false teachers who deny Jesus is God. These deceivers have rejected Jesus' teachings and destroy the community of faith, love and obedience. We also need to be on guard against good sounding humanism and cultural relativism that can lead us to compromise. For example, people say love is love, live together outside of marriage, and put rainbow signs in church windows. This humanistic view of love compromises God's truth and denies Jesus who died to save people from their sins of immorality. We should not share in their wickedness, but love them by helping them to repent and be saved.


Application: Father, help me to hold fast to the truth that your one and only Son Jesus died for my sins. Help me to love Jesus and to obey his commands to walk in his love.
One Word: .Love Jesus and obey his commands