Contemplative Bible Reading

2 John verse 4 (New Living Translation)

How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.

John addresses his letter to “the chosen lady and her children.” I don’t know who “the chosen lady” is. Did this lady have a big bunch of children—biologically? Maybe, but I believe this is addressing the descendants in the truth, in Jesus.

I have biological parents and grandparents who lived in the truth. They taught me much and I owe much “religious capital” to them (I think I just invented a term that may be silly). I have also experienced the benefit of many ancestors in the truth. They also taught and showed me much.

I find this to be some of the great blessings in God: the ability to inherit the truth from some and pass it along to others. In some sense, that is arrogant. My earthly father didn’t give me the grace of God; God gave it to me. In another sense, that is humble. The grace of God is right there in front of me; it always has been. Sometimes, however, I failed to see it.

God’s grace included a few persons who pointed me to God’s grace. Thank you, God.