2 John: 1–12 (NRSV)
The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us for ever:
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.
I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children following the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. And now I beg you, lady, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we follow his commandments; this is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you follow love. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, men who will not acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a full reward. Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son. If any one comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into the house or give him any greeting; for he who greets him shares his wicked work.
Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink, but I hope to come to see you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
Devotion – In Truth and Love
In today’s scripture reading, the author of 2 John includes a letter that has been written from “the elder to the elect lady and her children.” The themes of the letter center on truth and love. In particular, we are reminded that as followers of Jesus Christ, God’s word made flesh, we are to walk in truth and love one another. Indeed, we are reminded in today’s text that this commandment has been a requirement from the beginning.
However, too often, we fall short of this commandment and neglect to show a more loving way. We build walls instead of bridges, we use unkind labels to refer to those we disagree with, and like the priest and Levite in the parable of the Good Samaritan, we fail to be a neighbor and stop to assist the downtrodden.
Later in the letter, the author claims that those who neglect to profess that Jesus became human are deceivers and the antichrist, and those who do not follow Christ’s teachings do not have God. Rather than focusing on these verses that admonish others, this Lenten season, how can we shift our attention to the ways in which we have failed to walk in truth and love? As you’ve already heard, the theme for this year’s Lenten devotional is “A New and Right Spirit.” In these remaining days of Lent, how can we make room for Christ to transform our hearts and cultivate a spirit of love and truth that will continue to manifest itself even after the Lenten season is over?
Prayer
Gracious and Loving God, we confess that too often we fail to choose a more loving way. Instead of following your truth, we put our trust in worldly powers. Help order our steps, O Lord, and renew a right spirit of love within us, so that we may bring about the vision of your peaceable kingdom here on earth. We ask this through Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
John Curran