Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.
Historians believe John wrote these letters to Jesus followers in Ephesus in the years after the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. His message to them was clear and timely—walk in truth, love one another, obey and guard the teachings of Jesus. Second John emphasizes the necessity of both truth and love in the life of a Jesus Follower. His message is relevant to all of us today who profess to know, love and follow Jesus.
In verse 4, John emphasizes the importance of walking in truth —embracing God’s Word as the ultimate source for wisdom and guidance, and making choices in our lives that fully align with God’s commands. But he doesn’t stop there. In verse 5, John urges Jesus followers to love one another.
It’s not enough to know God’s truth, we must practice God’s love. In verse 6, John says it this way, “This is love: that we walk according to his commands. This is the command you have heard from the beginning: that you walk in love.” True love is not detached from God’s commands; nor are God’s commands detached from love.
Truth and love aren’t binary ideals. They are woven together in faith. And because our faith is meant to be fleshed out in community, it’s impossible to walk in both truth and love outside of relationship with others who share the faith —and those who do not.
Without relational proximity, truth too easily becomes the primary lens through which we see people and their circumstances. Our perceptions about people influences our posture toward them. When truth is the primary lens and a person or group’s beliefs and actions do not align with God’s truth, it’s much more likely I’ll stand opposed rather than lean in, come alongside.
But Jesus calls us to walk in love. And while relational proximity doesn’t change God’s truth, it does offer a more responsive lens. If how I see people and their circumstances influences how I respond to them, being in relationship with others offers a myriad of shades my black and white truth lens can’t capture alone. Walking alongside someone affords me greater understanding of their life and choices. Up close, I more clearly see the complexity of another person’s beliefs and decisions and this compels me to lean in (rather than away) with love and humility, suspending judgement for curiosity and compassion.
This is not to say walking in love is ever out of step with truth; it's never loving to withhold truth! However, walking with others in love helps build the kinds of relationships that bear the weight of truth. I know this has been my experience. I much more humbly receive the accountability of truth in relationship with someone who has walked with me —who knows and loves me. This is what John encourages and what I believe he saw Jesus do so skillfully.
How can we know we are walking in truth and in love? Here are two indicators from my own walk:
- When challenging, polarizing conversations come up —about politics, gender and sexuality, abortion, immigration, money, poverty —and certain truths about these topics come to mind first, then opinions about groups or people I don’t know personally who believe or act differently than I do, followed by feelings of frustration and judgement, it’s likely I need to lean into relationships with people who believe differently than I do in order to practice walking in love. Knowing the truth and understanding the realities in which truth is applied are complex matters only love can mediate.
- When I find in my close relationships with other Christians that I withhold the truth for fear of losing a friend, I refuse to take up the responsibility of accountability; I may need courage to speak up in order to practice walking in truth. As we’ll read together later in Jude and Revelation —speaking truth to other Christians who’ve been deceived in some way is the loving thing we can do.
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.
Reflection:
- Who are you walking with? Are you walking with them in truth? Are you walking with them in love?
- Who are NOT walking with —are there people you see only through the lens of truth? Those you walk ahead of in pride or a little behind in judgement? Who might you need to walk with in love?
- Prayer: Jesus, over and over in Your Word we find You coming alongside men and women in love, with immense compassion and patience and mercy — revealing to us truth, offering opportunity to walk in it with You. We also see You holding Christians accountable to obedience to the truth because of Your love. Paul reminds us in Romans that You are kind —but You are not soft, and that in Your kindness You take us firmly by the hand and lead us into radical life change. Help us walk in both truth and love with the people in our lives.
Family Devo: 2 John 1
By: Jana Whittington
Today, we're going to explore a short but powerful letter from the Bible, 2 John. In this letter, the Apostle John teaches us about the importance of walking in love and truth. Just like you're learning and growing in school, we can grow in our faith too. Love and Truth Go Hand in Hand. In 2 John, we read that we should walk in love and truth. This means showing kindness and love to others while also holding on to what we know is true about Jesus. When we do this, we become like little lights shining in the world, showing God's love to everyone around us.
John reminds us to love one another. Just as Jesus loved us and gave His life for us, we should be willing to help and care for others. Whether it's helping a friend at school or being kind to someone who needs it, love is a powerful way to share God's light.
John also warns us to be careful about what we believe. Not everything we hear is true. We should check if what we're hearing about God matches what the Bible says. This way, we stay strong in our faith. Walking in truth means following God's Word. Just like you follow the rules at school to succeed, we follow God's rules (His commandments) to live a life that pleases Him. It's like a roadmap to happiness and joy.
Prayer: Dear God, thank You for teaching us about love and truth. Help us to love others and be kind just as Jesus showed us. Give us wisdom to know what is right and help us be like lights, shining Your love into the world. In Jesus' name, Amen.