Bible in a Year - 2 John 1:5-6 - A Sight I Never Want to See

So, this is the sight that greeted me in our sanctuary this morning.

This is a sight I hope to never see. I never want to see a church whose front doors are boarded up or a church who cannot see out to the world that we are supposed to love and to serve.  (What is happening is that we are continuing to use capital campaign funds and this latest project is the replacement of our front doors and re-cementing the front walk to the street - both things were badly needed).

One of the things I love about our sanctuary is that when we look to the back of the sanctuary, we see out to the neighborhood beyond.  When I am leading in worship, I love looking out and being reminded that our ultimate work as followers of Jesus is out beyond the walls and not just within them.

In this 2nd letter of John, the writer shares these words:

...let us love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning—you must walk in it.  (2 John 1:5-6)

Our love as followers of Jesus must extend beyond the walls.  Yes, it should be within the walls as we love one another but it must extend beyond.  It should never stay behind closed or boarded up doors but out to the street, sidewalks, homes, schools, businesses, and neighborhoods beyond.  And all of it in love.