Daily Lesson for May 10, 2019

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from 2 John verses 1 through 5:

1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth, 2because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us for ever:

3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, in truth and love.

4 I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. 5But now, dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning, let us love one another.

John is concerned about the truth. In just five verses he mentions truth no less than three times. Truth, in John’s mind, is in jeopardy.  John wants to reclaim truth as a virtue of the Christian community.

But John knows that the truth is never far away from love. Truth is relational and social, something, as Bonhoeffer said, distinct from mere facts. For facts can be manipulated and twisted to be anti-social.  Thus the saying, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”  Statistical facts can be used to tear down and destroy; the truth, however, exists to protect and build up. Truth exists in relationship. It is social. It is life-giving. It is the way of Jesus, who is “the way, the truth, and life.”

Truth is at risk now in our country and world. It’s said to be in dispute; but it is not. Facts are in dispute. From which sources we get accurate facts is in dispute. But truth is itself is not in dispute. It is not debatable. Truth is whatever gives life and does not take it, it is whatever blesses and does not curse, it is whatever honors the divine in others and does not denigrate. 

Paul said, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — think about such things.”  We must learn to think on what is noble, what is lovely, and what is loving and learn to live — insist on living — accordingly. For truly, truly, I say to you, the Son of Man came on earth “full of grace and truth” and too should all the children of God come to live also.