Face to Face

Today’s reading: 2 John 1:1-13

“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 complete.” - ‭‭2 John‬ ‭1:12‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Have you felt this same desire in 2020? Since March, it has become more challenging and more complicated to see each other in person as we did before. We send text messages, are on video calls, and use social media, but it is a far cry from face to face. In this way, our hearts are connecting with Elder John.

He writes that if and when he can see them in person, hopefully before his exile in Patmos, their joy would be complete.

John's Greek word for joy is chara, which is similar to the term used in the New Testament for grace (charis). It can also translate as delight or gladness. The same word is used of the Magi when they saw the star that would lead them to toddler Jesus (Matthew 2:10). They “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy!”

John also writes that their joy would be “complete” when they finally saw each other “face to face.” This is the word pleroo, and it also means to “make full.” This means that there is something that falls short until we rejoice together, face to face.

I pray that in an increasingly technological world that we will always value personal connection. It will never go out of style or lose its value.