V. 12 - Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full

V. 13 - The children of your chosen sister greet you.”

 

This book has given me a new appreciation and love for truth.  Truth is the only thing that really matters. It is our starting point for holy living. Our first rule of business.  In it, God has revealed His perfect will and His holy Character. The understanding of both are bedrocks to the Christian’s faith.

 

What grace and goodness of the LORD to reveal Himself in such a way. 

 

Truth is a blessing, privilege and responsibility.  And I hope this study has helped us appreciate that in a new way.

 

As we close this book, I want to consider this fullness of joy.  What makes it full?

 

There are two things in this verse that seem to contribute to this fulness of joy.

 

The first one is through the truth.

 

but I hope to come to you and speak face to face.

 

We don’t know what it was exactly that John wanted to say to them, but one thing we can be sure of is that it was more truth.  Truth was John’s life-blood.

 

“what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things (or these truths) we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” – 1 John 1:3

 

Could we say one more thing about walking in the truth? It begets joy. Truth begets joy.

 

Joy is not based on circumstance, but rather, on truth. It’s based on truth that does not waver in its dependability and surety. Which is the reason we can experience joy regardless of what we go through.  Joy is anchored to truth – to that which remains unchanged and unaffected. 

 

Like everything else we’ve talked about in relation to walking in truth – joy is a choice.

 

Their joy being made full is contingent upon hearing and receiving the truth.  

 

My ability to experience joy rests on the edge of belief and unbelief. When I am faced with difficult circumstances am I going to grab hold of truth or not? Am I going to believe that God causes all things to work together for good? That all His paths are just, that He is indeed a God of faithfulness and without injustice?

 

We know that this life is going to be hard, we know that as those who stand for truth we are going to face persecution and oppression, but we can also know that in the midst of everything we can experience a joy that is based on a truth that will not fade regardless of what opposes it.

 

If joy is based on truth, truth is needed to maintain it or to nourish it – to keep it an active and dominating force in our lives. 

 

How do we feed it? Are we feeding it enough? What is the measure of our joy? – these are some questions we need to consider.

 

The second way that their joy is made full is through seeing John.

 

but I hope to come to you and speak face to face

 

In what ways does seeing each other “face to face” make our joy full?

 

In his current situation, a letter, was the means he was given to communicate to this lady.  And the issue before him wasn’t something he felt could wait until a next meeting.  It was serious enough that he saw the need to address it as soon as possible.  

 

However, aside from this means, there is still the strong desire to come and see them.

 

There is a real joy that comes from the assembling of believers, from seeing one another face to face.  

 

I think it’s interesting that this is the way the evil one has chosen to attack the church as of late. Even he knows how much we need each other.  

 

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” – Heb 10:23-25

 

This “forsaking” means desertion. Abandon. To leave to survive without you.

 

Notice too, this stimulation to love and good deeds takes place in the context of our assembling. 

 

not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

 

The very act of our coming together is an encouragement.  It’s a fulfillment of the responsibility that we have as members one of another to build each other up. 

 

There are so many ways in which we can do this, and we are not going to take the time to get into them, but some of the most basic ones are; sharing each other’s burdens, praying for one another (not just when we are alone, but praying together), exercising our spiritual gifts to the edification of others, giving and receiving – help and service, grace and forbearance. This is just to name a few, and each of these contributes to our joy! 

 

If you are not being negligent in the assembly and wonder at your struggle with joy, you have no further to look than your own unfaithfulness.

 

Oh, how much we need each other!  “…and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” With each passing day our need for one another grows greater.  This is especially true in our present social climate.  I need my brothers and sisters in Christ more today than I did yesterday, and more tomorrow than I do today.  Our need doesn’t depreciate, it intensifies. 

 

Not only does it fulfill our responsibility to one another, it completes our joy. 

 

We are given an example here, in 2 John, that is just tremendous.  John could send another letter, but he’s not willing to! He wants to see this lady.  He wants to experience the joy that comes from gathering together as one in Christ. 

 

“…but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full.”

 

Think of the lengths John would have had to go through to travel to see this lady and the church.  We are often deterred by distance and bad weather…how about a sea voyage and a storm?  How much easier it would have been to use a letter or a messenger to communicate to them.  But he’s not willing to do that. How much easier it is for us to use a computer or a phone…

 

One of the most important ways we experience the joy of the LORD is through each other.

 

Through exactly the means the writer of Hebrews talks about.  Through encouraging one another, reminding one another of TRUTH – the steadfast hope we have and seeing it lived out in each other’s lives. These things are confirmation and evidences that God is faithful.  That He will do and accomplish what He said He will in each of our lives. What a joy that is to see. 

 

**on a side note -- If the joy of the LORD is our strength – and one of the ways we experience that joy is through our brothers and sisters in Christ – when we neglect the assembly we are cutting off a source of that strength. **

 

One thing that is important to notice is the commonality between our joy being made full through the truth and through our assembling together.

 

There is something foundational in regards to both of these, and that is – obedience.

 

Receiving the truth and assembling as one in Christ are both acts of obedience. 

 

It comes down to what I choose to do or what I value the most.

 

It follows then that – our joy is a choice, because obedience is a choice.

 

Here it seems more than a choice for John – it seems a longing. 

 

When obedience to these things becomes habitual, it turns into longing. I HAVE to have the truth, I HAVE to see my brothers and sisters.  

 

“…so that your joy may be made full.”

 

This means to ‘fill to the full’. To cause to abound

 

Truth has the potential of accomplishing SO much within us…

 

“Though I have many things to write to you…”

 

Or much.  Even though John talks of deep truth in this book, he has barely scratched the surface of its depths.  

 

This letter doesn’t end with a finality but a “to be continued”.  As well it should.  The riches of truth that are found in God and His Son are endless…  an eternity is needed and that’s exactly what we are given. 

 

I was thinking about that…how God provides us with everything we need to understand the truth – His word, His Son, His Spirit and His everlasting life.  We are going to need all of them. 

 

I hope and trust that this study has been an encouragement, and that it will create within us a greater desire to walk in the truth. 

 

Doing so defends us, sanctifies us, unites us, provides discernment and the ability to love, it is the only way we will be able to stand firm, and the only way we will please our Father….and it is eternal. 

 

“Heaven and earth may pass away, but My words shall not pass away.”

- Augusta