Scripture: 2 John 1 The elder,
To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.
It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.
I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.
Devotion: This letter from John is likely written to a local congregation of a church (the lady and her children). Yet again, one of the main topics of this letter is love. In fact, our love for one another is at the very foundation of our life together. We can show our love for God and for others by walking in his commandments. We surrender to Him.
In 2 John, this is referred to as “walking in the truth” (verse 4). Truth is another one of John’s favorite topics. You have likely noticed by now that he frequently brings up both love and truth. Much of 2 John echoes what he said in 1 John. So, as odd as it may seem, let’s focus in on the salutation that John gives in this letter. “Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love” (2 John 3). There are those two words again, truth and love. But before we dive into those topics, John first offers grace, peace, and mercy. He is not just wishing this for his readers but confidently giving it to them as it comes from the Father.
John knows that these are things that truly come for God alone. We can have grace, peace, and mercy that overflow into all areas of our life and set our hearts at ease through the finished work of Jesus. And John is reminding his readers of this very truth as well. Each of these are given to us in both truth and love. The Holy Spirit helps direct our steps to walk in the truth, encouraging us to strive to live a life of obedient surrender. And when we do so, we experience both God’s love for us in understanding just how carefully and beautifully He designed us and the created order, and His unending, unfailing love for us when we fall short.
Reflect:
- Grace, peace, mercy, truth, and love. Which of these are you most in need of right now? Pray for more of it today, trusting that God will provide it.