Truth, Love, and Obedience

In 2 John 1:4-6, John writes, “I rejoice greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. And now I ask you, dear lady – not as though I was writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning – that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.”

To walk in the truth means to obey it, to permit it to control every area of our lives. It is much easier to study the truth, or even to argue about the truth, than it is to practice it!

In verse 4 John expresses joy that people are living their lives in obedience to God’s will. It brings great joy to the Father when He sees His children obeying His Word. It should bring great joy to us as well when we see other followers of Jesus obeying Him.

It should conversely break our hearts when see other believers not obeying Jesus. It should break our hearts when we see anybody not obeying God.

Jesus is not angry when people disobey His Word or His will. It breaks His heart. What breaks Jesus’ heart should break our hearts.

I see it many times that when we who are followers of Jesus see those who disobey God, our reaction is anger, not sadness.

Jesus wants people to obey Him because it is the best thing for them if they do and He wants the best for us. He is for us, not against us.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is living in obedience to God and being broken when others don’t.  

In verse 4 John reminds us that walking in the truth is what God commands.

God’s commandments are expressions of His love. They are not meant to burden us down with needless restrictions or useless laws. Each commandment shows us the best way to live and relate to God. They again are for our benefit.

God’s will reveals His heart and God’s heart is always centered on us. We are the apple of His eye. We are His treasured possession.

Many try and make God’s commandments appear harsh. They present an alternative to God’s commands that they claim leads to freedom.

Jesus says in John 8 that abiding in God’s Word leads to being His disciples and that His disciples know the truth and that the truth really sets us free.

Any teaching that opposes God’s Word leads to slavery and death, not freedom and life.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is experiencing freedom and life through obeying God’s Word.

Then in verses 5 and 6 John reminds us that we are to love each other. This is not a new command. The Mosaic Law commanded that the Jews love their neighbors in Leviticus 19:18 and 34. Jesus commands His followers to love one another in John 13.

When God tells us to love others that is not an act out of our emotions, but an act of our wills. I cannot always control my emotions, but I can allow God to control my will and how I act and react.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is loving others out of a Spirit-controlled will.

In this passage John blends together three things; truth, love and obedience. It is by believing the truth – in Christ and in the Word – that we are saved. The evidence of that salvation is love and obedience. Love and obedience are strengthened as we grow in our knowledge of truth. We speak the truth in love and obey God’s commands because we love Him. Obedience enables us to learn more truth, and the more truth we learn, the more we love Jesus who is truth.

Instead of living in a vicious circle, we live in a victorious circle of love, truth, and obedience.

In Love, Truth, and Obedience Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls,

                                                        Joe