Truth Be Told

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love. 2 John 3

When we become followers of Jesus, we literally become followers of Truth and Love. He is the epitome of both in a world that confuses them with perverse theories.

Last week I wrote about how painful it is when someone lies to us. It shatters everything that we thought was real. Let’s take a look at truth because it can have the same effect.

It is totally possible to find out that we’ve been lied to because we didn’t get the full truth. The book of 2 John addresses truth in a church context. Churches received false teachers whom John called deceivers and antichrists. So truth is important. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God but so many people aren’t hearing the truth of it. They are hearing lies and partial truths about the Word. They believe that Jesus was just a loving prophet without any real power. How devastating! Only an all-powerful God can heal a broken heart. Only a King can take away a slave from Satan and make him or her a part of the Bride of Christ. Only a Redeemer can forgive and save an adulteress about to be stoned and then give her the strength to walk in holiness.

John said, “Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.” But if truth and love aren’t given out together, we forfeit endless gifts such as grace, mercy, and peace. Mercy is compassion in action, according to my Greek dictionary. That compassion helps us to shoulder other people’s burdens, which may mean hearing the painful details of their story. And if we want peace, the only way is to embrace the Loving Truth. ‘Embracing’ means seeing my need for Jesus to save me from my sin, my flesh, and my desires.

The Word came with power. Let’s not dilute any part of that truth by only offering love. The message – spoken with truth and love – is the only thing that will keep our foundation secure.

Heavenly Father, I know that I’ve sacrificed truth and love because I haven’t wanted to offend. Forgive me. I’ve been angry for the times that I have spoken the truth and was rejected. Your Son was rejected, so redeem all of this pain for good. In Jesus Precious Name, Amen

Journal:

Are truth and love contradictory? Explain.

Look up examples when Jesus was both.

Listen to Open My Hands by Sara Groves and release to Jesus anything that about His nature that you struggle with.