Work Through the Whole Bible, Part 15Sample

Each of John’s letters is notable for bringing the concepts of “truth” and “love” together into a single idea. Here in 2 John, we find the most extended development of this idea. 

Regrettably, we often act as though grace, mercy, and peace depend on love minus truth. We may hide or shade uncomfortable truths in our communications with others at work in the misguided belief that telling the truth would not be loving. Or we may fear that telling the truth will lead to conflict or ill will, rather than grace or peace. Thinking we are being merciful, we fail to tell the truth.

But love must always begin with the truth. Love comes to us through Christ, and Christ is the perfect embodiment of the truth of God. That is to say, God knows the way things really are, and he wraps his knowledge in love and brings it to us through his Son. So if we are ever to love as God loves, we must begin with the truth, not with falsity, evasion, or fairy­tales. It is true that telling the truth may lead to conflict or upset feelings—ours or others’. But genuine grace, mercy, and peace come from facing reality and working through difficulties to genuine resolutions.

Jesus, even when it is difficult, help me to speak the truth in love. May genuine grace, mercy, and peace come from facing reality and working through difficulties to find solutions. Amen.