“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” (2 John 1:3-4)
These words from the Apostle John are a profound reminder of how God’s gifts flow into our lives—not randomly, but through the beautiful harmony of truth and love. The Apostle John repeats these two words together throughout his letter, and it’s not by chance. Truth and love are meant to go hand in hand.
Truth by itself can be a heavy burden. It shines a light on what is wrong, what is broken, but without love, that light can feel blinding, even harsh. Love, on the other hand, is tender and comforting, but if it isn’t grounded in truth, it can lead us astray or leave us feeling shallow and unfulfilled. Yet, when truth and love are united, they create something powerful, something life-giving.
Think of the chemical elements sodium and chlorine. Sodium, by itself, is so reactive that it cannot exist alone in nature. Chlorine, on its own, is a dangerous, toxic gas. But when these two come together, they form table salt—something essential for life. Salt doesn’t just make food taste better; it preserves, it heals, and it sustains.
That’s what truth and love do in our lives. Truth keeps us grounded, gives us a foundation to stand on, and points us to God’s unchanging ways. Love brings warmth, compassion, and healing to our hearts. Alone, they each have their limits, but together, they reflect the character of God Himself.
Jesus Christ is the perfect example of this union. When He met the woman caught in adultery, He didn’t condemn her—that was love. But He also didn’t ignore her sin; He told her to “go and sin no more”—that was truth. Jesus lived and acted in the perfect balance of truth and love, and through Him, we see how powerful this combination can be. He invites us to do the same.
Friends, we are called to live in this balance. Let’s speak the truth, but to do so with kindness. Let’s love others, but not at the expense of what is right and true. When we live in truth and love, we reflect God’s grace, mercy, and peace to the world.
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