#soap # 2 John 01 ## Title: Love With Guardrails ## Scripture: (2 John 1:5) “But now I ask you, lady (not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning), that we love one another.” (NET) ## Observation: How much better off would we be if we simplified our lives to the two goals of loving God and loving others? Now, it is true that you cannot engage with everyone the same. Some people are so broken that they do not know how to accept love from others. They end up abusing the kindness of others because they do not know any other way. Isn’t it loving to pray for them and not decide they are less than the rest of us? Loving others takes courage. Loving others means we focus on others rather than ourselves. Loving others says, “I’m good. You go first.” We can only properly love others if we know we are already truly loved by God. When you realize you are completely loved by Him, your capacity increases. ## Application: Let others go first today. Find a simple way to show kindness to someone else. ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for loving us so completely that we can love others.