2 John 1:1-3
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.
Devotion
Scholars across the board agree that the author of 2 John is the same disciple that wrote the Gospel of John and 1 John. The main thrust in this short letter is that those who are faithful to Christ and His teaching will one day be fully rewarded. In this epistle, we will also see the importance of mutual love toward other believers.
John opens this letter by addressing it to “the chosen lady and her children.” This most likely refers to a specific congregation in Asia Minor. This would have been a church that John was well acquainted with. He expresses his love for this church and its people. In these first three verses he emphasizes the word “truth” four times. When John writes of truth, he usually is referring to the gospel and person of Jesus Christ.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus is recorded as saying, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” The person of Jesus embodies all truth because He was with God from the beginning. Jesus was the active agent in creation. According to the apostle Paul, “by Him all things hold together.” Jesus is the glue that holds it all together. The truth concerning Jesus was considered very important in the early church. As we have learned the last several weeks, there were false teachers in the first century that were leading people away from the truth concerning Jesus.
I believe this short letter is very relevant for us today. In a recent message, Abdu Murray talked about the fact that we are now living in a “post-truth” culture. We live in a time when moral relativism is alive and well. This philosophy teaches that there are no absolute truths. Truth is relative. This means that truth is whatever you want it to be. What is truth for one person may not be truth for someone else.
The early church guarded the truth concerning Jesus. They understood that eternity hung in the balance. They believed, and so do we, that to reject the truth concerning Jesus has devastating eternal consequences. John commends this church for holding to the truth concerning Jesus. Tomorrow we will look at what it practically means to “walk in the truth.”
Questions to Ponder
Do you know the Truth (Jesus)? Have you remained true to the truth concerning the person and work of Jesus? How do you live out the truth of Jesus in a post-truth culture?
Prayer Points
- Praise the Lord who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
- Adore Him: all things were created by Him and for Him.
- Thank the Lord for upholding and sustaining all things.
- Confess any sins and receive His mercy, forgiveness, and love.
- Pray for wisdom and power by His Holy Spirit to live out the truths of His Word with grace and compassion.
Suggested Prayer
God, I praise You for being fully God and fully man. Thank You, Jesus, for being Truth and Love. Thank You, Lord, for Your full obedience to the cross. What sacrificial love You have for us! Lord, help us as Your children to reflect Your heart and to love as You have loved us. Enable us to remain in the truth, to yield to Your Holy Spirit throughout the day. Amen.