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The Flip Side of Love Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 42–44 1 John 1 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s , will be with us in truth and love. 2 John 1:3 2 John 1:1– The Roman inns during the time of Christ had a reputation so bad that rabbis wouldn’t even permit cattle to be left at them. Faced with such bad conditions, traveling Christians usually sought other believers for hospitality. Among those early travelers were false teachers denied that Jesus was the Messiah. This is why the letter of 2 John tells its readers there is a time to refuse to extend hospitality. John had said in a previous letter that these false teachers were “antichrist—denying the Father and the ” (1 John 2:22). In 2 John he elaborated on this, telling his readers that whoever believes Jesus is the Messiah “has both the Father and the ” (v. 9). Then he warned, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them” (v. ). To extend hospitality to someone preaching a false gospel would actually help keep people separated from God. John’s second letter shows us a “flip side” of God’s love. We serve a God welcomes everyone with open arms. But genuine love won’t enable those deceitfully harm themselves and others. God wraps His arms around those come to Him in repentance, but He never embraces a lie. Reflect & Pray How can you reflect God’s love in your relationships today? What issues might you need to confront in your own life or in the lives of others? Father, You love us in Your truth. Help us extend that love to others with the unwavering grace that comes only from Your Spirit. 
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All I can do is live my life in what I hope is pleasing to God, be amiable to everyone, and let God sort it all out. But that doesn't mean I have to hang around with those who talk against God, and I also don't have to argue with them, which often seems to be their goal. Be a prism, spreading God's light and love, not a mirror reflecting the world's hatred.
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