The Truth - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him today and what came to my heart and mind in 2 John 1-2,

"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..."

Here in John's salutation, truth is on his mind. He says he loves his
readers in "the truth" along with all who know the truth. He explains
that truth lives in him and his readers and that it will be that way
forever.

He also says that the Father and Jesus Christ will be with them "in
truth and love." He notes that some of his readers walk in "the
truth" as God commands.

In verse 7 he expresses his concern about deceivers that had gone out
into the world. He warns his readers not to lose what they had worked
for, presumably by abandoning the truth to follow these deceivers. He
explains that those not continuing in "the teaching of Christ" do not
have the Father - are not saved and are not going to receive any
reward from God.

Merriam-Webster defines truth as the "body of real things, events, and
facts: actuality." It goes on to explain, "the property of being in
accord with fact or reality."

The fight against truth has been the essence of the devil's work, his
trade, from the dawn of mankind. We see it in his effort to get Adam
and Eve to question what God had told them in the garden.

Paul talks about the "lawless one" that will come before Jesus
Christ's return. Notice how truth and the opposite of truth play out
in this future setting: "The coming of the lawless one will be in
accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of
power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways
that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because
they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God
sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and
so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have
delighted in wickedness." 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12.

It certainly feels like there is a whole lot of the opposite of truth
that surrounds us today. John's admonition in this short letter could
not be more appropriate for our day!

The answer to the question Pilate asked of Jesus, "What is truth?" is
very simple. He answered that question in his prayer to the Father,
"Sanctify them [his disciples] by the truth; your word is truth." John
17:17.

The word of God: Learn it, know it, live it, love it, be loyal, strong
and courageous in it!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

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