Corona Devo 3046

In a world where more and more people make up their own "truth" and glory in "living their (own) truth", it is encouraging and uplifting to meet and find others that are walking with us in God's truth.

If we know Jesus and read the Bible, then we know what I mean when I say, "truth".  God's truth is told to us in His Word, the Bible.  But those that are far from God know not of His truth.

Right before Jesus was sentenced to die on the cross, Pilate questioned what "truth" even was:

Jesus answered, “...In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” 
(38) “What is truth?” retorted Pilate...  ~John 18:37-38

If you don't know, then you don't know.  

But, if we DO know the truth (God's truth), then...we know, and it gives us unique (spiritual) encouragement to know others that know the truth.

Connecting with other Believers puts a spring in our spiritual-step.  It's uplifting to know that we are not alone in living God's truth, and their testimonies of faith become our testimonies of faith, because we are both striving to walk in God's truth. 

I chatted with a friend the other day, and she shared about her daughter's challenges with other girls in her (high school) grade because this young woman is choosing not to date (and so, she doesn't "fit" in).  Instead of flitting from one short-lived high school relationship to the next, she is choosing to stay pure and wait for a Godly young man and marriage.  And in the meantime (and unlike most other girls), she has no desire to date-around or fool-around.  

But (for your information) that's a lonely high school path to take these days, and it is definitely the road less traveled.  In a world that encourages young people to "live your own truth"--promiscuity and directionless relationships are the norm, and sexual standards are the exception.

I know because our daughter is choosing to walk the same walk, and right then, as this lady-of-faith shared about her daughter, I decided that I loved that lady and her children in the truth (God's truth).

Why?  Because it has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us (2 John 1:4).

~~~

In the Bible, the apostle John was thinking the very same thing: that we (as Believers) are encouraged by the faith and walk of other Believers.  John mentions the lady (and her children) that encouraged him:

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— (2) because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: (3) Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. 

(4) It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. (5) And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. (6) And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.  ~2 John 1:1-6

If we love God's truth and walk in it, then we aspire to live-it and embody-it within ourselves/our lives/and in our children (if applicable).  

And if we seek to walk in the truth, then we will also love and celebrate and compliment others who walk in God's truth.  This is what John is doing.  He is encouraged, inspired, and happy to know the lady and her children.  For truth's sake. 

The lady and her children walk in the truth (2 John 1:4), and that has made a beautiful impression on John.  

Who has made a beautiful, encouraging, impactful impression on us because they walk in the truth?  

John wrote a letter To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth (2 John 1:1).  We could write a letter to let someone know that their faith-walk has encouraged us.  We could send a note, a text, or phonecall to someone whose walk in the truth has encouraged and strengthened our walk in the truth.

It's what the apostle John did.  

What is stopping us from writing to someone to encourage them in the Lord, and to let them know how their truth-following has touched and inspired us in ours.

Jesus Himself said, "Everyone on the side of truth listens to me” (John 18:37).  

Let's be on God's side of truth.  

And, in truth let's champion and celebrate others as they live God's truth...such as the lady and her children.

~~~

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— (2) because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: (3) Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. 

(4) It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us...  ~2 John 1:1-4


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