The joy of seeing believers grow
Though I have many things to write to you, I don’t want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete. The children of your elect sister send you greeting. 2 John 1:12-13 CSB
John’s second letter wraps up here, shorter than his first, since “I don’t want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete.” John preferred to be in person with the church that he was writing to explain the “many things” that he left out here. He would prefer to see them in person so he could express his love for them in the body of Christ. Fellowship with one another is important, as seen in Hebrews 10:25, “not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” Since he does not know when he would be able to see them, he felt the need of writing the ones he wanted them to know immediately and he would later convey the rest when he comes. We do not know what the content of what John shared to church. Also, we were not told how far John would travel for him to see them. Nonetheless, writing to them will make “our[their] joy… complete” (1 John 1:4). What makes believers joyful is when they see those whom they are discipling growing in their faith, taking heed the admonitions, and following God’s instructions for godly living. Added to all these reasons to be joyful, is the opportunity to see each other in person provides mutual satisfaction. John is already celebrating when he heard that his readers are “walking in truth, in keeping with a command we have received from the Father” (2 John 1:4). As mentioned from the first devotional of this book, I am using the interpretation that the “lady” was a local church. Therefore, the “children of your elect sister” that is sending greetings, to me, is the congregation of another local church. It shows that the body of Christ, the individual churches, care for one another, something that should be in every church’s character.
Blessings,
Isaac De Guzman
