Truth and love

I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete. Greetings from the children of your sister, chosen by God. 2 John 12-13 NLT

From the text, John concludes the body of the letter where he emphasized the love believers need to show for fellow believers, rejection of false teachings and false teachers, and remaining strong and steadfast holding on to the truth of God. John has a lot more to say and he prefers to come and visit with his fellow believers rather than communicate “with paper and ink.” He desires to have a face-to-face fellowship for this makes the “joy complete.” Written communication at times is necessary when there is an issue with distance. But no amount of emoji or smiley face can take the place a warm smile a human face could provide. The tap on the shoulder to console or encourage is better than ink. There is no substitute to having a personal Christian fellowship. The opportunity to be with fellow believers provides joy. We all need each other in the body of Christ. When we grow accepting one another in the body of Christ, we also grow in our fellowship with Jesus and the Father. “And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy” (1 John 1:3-4). Our priority as the body of Christ is to remain in the truth and manifest the truth as we love one another. “God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love” (2 John 3). We are able to sustain the attack and the deception of the enemy when we know that there are others in the fellowship that upholds us in prayer. Truth and love are what sustain the body of Christ. When the two are functioning in the fellowship of believers, the body of Christ is healthy. “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:6-7 NIV).

Blessings,