By Ariel
✨ Hello! I’m Ariel!
…and this week, something totally wild happened during our Bible time. 💡📖
It all started when Poppy adjusted the brass dials on our family’s Time Audit Machine—a pretend contraption made from old teacups, Mom’s label maker, and two glittery wires I borrowed from my STEM kit. Alice called it “The Wobbly Wonder,” but I preferred something like “Truth Tracker 3000.”
We all crowded around as Yaya read 2 John 1:7–11, and suddenly—boom!—our imagination kicked in.
Through the little porthole window, I could see it: a dusty path with two signs pointing in different directions. One read “TRUTH,” carved deep into solid stone. The other said “FIBVILLE,” and someone had scribbled it in crayon, all crooked and wobbly.
“Warning!” said Fluffernutter in his very serious bunny voice (only Alice could hear it, of course). “False teachers ahead! Deploy your gospel goggles!”
So, I adjusted my journal strap and clipped on my imaginary Scripture Scanner. Because when John warns about people trying to twist the truth about Jesus, I think he means we need to be on high alert. Not afraid. Not angry. Just ready—like knights guarding something precious.
That’s when Daddy said something that really stuck:
“Truth isn’t something we shout—it’s something we live.”
Whoa. That felt like a highlighter moment in my Bible.
So today’s adventure? It’s not just about spotting false teachers—it’s about learning how to walk in truth and love at the same time. Like holding a Bible in one hand and a flashlight in the other… so we don’t trip in the dark.
Ready to step into 2 John with me? 🕯️✍️
Grab your field journal, fluff up your heart, and let’s explore how God helps us stand firm—with faith, courage, and a sprinkle of sparkly glue.
🛡️ Guarding the Gospel Truth with Love and Light
During Bible time last night, our living room turned into a mini mission headquarters.
Daddy opened his well-worn Bible to 2 John 1:7–11 and said something that made my pencil stop mid-doodle:
“John warns us about people who try to twist the truth about Jesus,” he told us. “False teachers don’t just get little facts wrong—they try to pull people away from the heart of the gospel. That’s why we’re called to guard the truth and help others see who Jesus really is.”
That word—guard—stuck in my mind like a sticky note in my Bible journal. 📝🕊️
So, of course, I had questions. (Captain of Team Discovery here!)
“Wait,” I asked, “how do we know if someone’s a false teacher?”
Daddy nodded. “John gives us a clue,” he said. “He says a key warning sign is when someone denies that Jesus came in the flesh. In other words—they say Jesus wasn’t really human. But the Bible makes it clear: Jesus came to Earth fully God and fully human. That’s the miracle of the incarnation—and the foundation of our faith.”
Alice peeked up from her bunny snuggle with Fluffernutter and asked, “So, we don’t listen to people who don’t believe Jesus was a real person?”
Yaya smiled softly, like she always does when things get serious and beautiful at the same time.
“That’s right, sweetheart,” she said. “Our faith begins with who Jesus is—God in human form. And when someone teaches something that goes against that, we need to be careful. But we don’t have to be mean or scared. We can still show love. We tell the truth with kindness, and we always stay ready to explain what we believe.”
Daddy leaned back in his chair and added one of his big-voice quotes that makes me want to write it in fancy letters on a poster:
“We are called to be truth-holders and love-givers.”
That line might’ve been my favorite part of the night. 💖💬
Even in a world full of confusing messages and mixed-up beliefs, we don’t have to shout or argue. We just need to stay rooted in Scripture, walk closely with Jesus, and let our hearts shine with both truth and grace.
💬 Let’s Wonder Together:
- How do you know what’s really true about Jesus?
- Have you ever had to stand up for what you believe?
- What does it mean to “guard the gospel truth” with kindness?
📖 Memory Moment:
“Many deceivers have gone out into the world… Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.”
—2 John 1:7–8
❗Spotting the Deceivers: What Does the Bible Say?
“Wait—what if someone sounds right, but secretly says something wrong about Jesus?”
That’s the question I scribbled in the corner of my Bible journal during family devotion time. 📖✨
We were reading 2 John 1:7, where the apostle John writes:
“For many deceivers have gone out into the world—those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.”
Whoa. That’s serious stuff. Deceiver? Antichrist? It made me pause mid-snack.
Daddy said, “John is warning us that there are many people—back then and today—who try to lead others away from the truth. The biggest red flag? They deny that Jesus came to Earth as a real person. But if Jesus didn’t come in the flesh, His sacrifice wouldn’t mean anything. He had to become human to take our place on the cross.”
That’s when my brain lit up like my glow-in-the-dark stickers. 🌟
Jesus didn’t just visit Earth—He moved in.
He didn’t float like a ghost—He cried real tears, scraped His knees, and laughed at dinners with His friends.
So I asked, “What does it mean to deny Jesus came in the flesh?”
Daddy said, “It means some people say Jesus was just a spirit—or that His life on Earth wasn’t real. But the Bible is clear: Jesus is fully God and fully human. He was born, He walked among us, and He gave His life for our sins. That truth is the foundation of everything we believe.”
Yaya added one of her classic truth-bombs:
“False teachers might sound smart or super emotional, but if their message doesn’t line up with Scripture—we step back and hold on to truth.”
She reminded us how sneaky these deceivers can be—using clever words, fancy ideas, and feelings that seem deep but aren’t rooted in Jesus.
“Not everything that sparkles is treasure,” Yaya said, “and not every ‘truth’ is gospel truth.”
That’s why we need to test what we hear. Just like you test water before jumping in—we test teachings by holding them up to God’s Word.
Because our faith doesn’t rest on feelings or trends—it rests on the real, historical, miracle-filled life of Jesus Christ, who came in the flesh to save us. 💖
💬 Let’s Wonder Together:
- Why do you think John was so clear about calling out false teachers?
- Have you ever heard something about Jesus that didn’t sound quite right?
- What Bible verse helps you stay anchored when you’re unsure what to believe?
📌 Truth Check Reminder:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.”
—1 John 4:1
🔐 Guarding the Faith Like a Treasure Map
During devotion time, Yaya handed me a shiny sticker shaped like a padlock and said, “Stick this on your Bible journal page for today.” I looked at the verse we were studying—2 John 1:8—and suddenly it all made sense. This wasn’t just about watching out for bad teachings. It was about protecting something priceless.
John writes:
“Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.” —2 John 1:8
Daddy leaned in and said, “John is reminding us that our faith journey takes focus. If we get distracted by false teachings, we risk losing not just knowledge, but the deep truth and reward God wants us to hold onto.”
That made me think of one of those adventure books I read, where the treasure gets hidden beneath traps and twisted maps. Except this treasure isn’t gold—it’s the gospel, and it’s way more valuable than anything shiny. ✨
Our faith is like a treasure map, and every verse, prayer, and truth from Jesus is a clue that leads us closer to God’s heart.
So I asked, “Wait… if someone listens to false teachers, can they really lose the truth they already know?”
Daddy nodded. “Yes, they can. That’s why it’s so important to test what we hear against God’s Word. The gospel is clear: Jesus came, died for us, rose again, and offers salvation freely. When someone adds confusing ideas or takes pieces away, it distorts that message. That’s how people can drift without even realizing it.”
Yaya, who always wraps hard truths in soft encouragement, added:
“We guard the faith by staying close to Scripture, by praying for wisdom, and by encouraging each other to grow in truth. It’s not about fear—it’s about love. Love for Jesus, and love for His Word.”
She also reminded us how being part of a strong, truth-loving church community helps us stay anchored. When we read the Bible together, ask honest questions, and check our hearts often, we’re doing the brave work of guarding the truth God has given us.
💬 Let’s Wonder Together:
- What do you think it means to guard your faith?
- Have you ever heard a message that didn’t sound like what the Bible teaches?
- Who helps you stay rooted in God’s Word when you have questions?
📖 Faith Fact Highlight:
“The gospel doesn’t need sparkles or shortcuts—it just needs to be shared clearly, believed deeply, and lived out joyfully.” —Me (Ariel 😉)
🚪When to Say “No” (But Still With Love)
This part of the Bible made my eyebrows scrunch up with curiosity. It felt extra serious—and kind of hard to understand at first.
John writes:
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.” —2 John 1:10–11
Whoa. 😮
So, I asked Daddy, “Does this mean we can’t even talk to people who don’t believe in Jesus?”
He smiled and said, “That’s a great question. John isn’t saying we have to hide or ignore people who don’t believe the gospel. He’s saying we shouldn’t support or celebrate false teachings—especially if someone is spreading things that go against what Jesus taught.”
“If we support someone teaching lies about Jesus, we could accidentally help spread those lies too.”
That made a lot of sense to me. Imagine if someone was handing out maps that led away from treasure—and you smiled and handed out snacks for their journey. 😬 Yikes!
Yaya added something wise, as always.
“We’re called to love everyone, but never at the cost of truth. Love doesn’t mean agreeing with error—it means gently guiding people back toward Jesus.”
So yes—we can still talk, listen, and even be kind to people who don’t believe like we do. But we’re also called to be brave and bold when it comes to protecting doctrinal truth. That means:
- Don’t promote or repost teachings that sound “almost right” but twist the gospel.
- Stay close to Scripture so we can spot the difference between truth and almost-truth.
- Ask God for wisdom to speak kindly and clearly—without backing down from what’s true.
Love without truth can be misleading.
Truth without love can be harsh.
But truth + love together? That’s the gospel in action.
💬 Let’s Wonder Together:
- Have you ever felt unsure about what someone was teaching about Jesus?
- How can we be kind without agreeing with what’s untrue?
- What are some ways you can lovingly speak truth to someone who’s confused about God?
📖 Verse to Remember:
“Speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ.” —Ephesians 4:15
🛡️ Everyday Truth-Guarding: What Can We Actually Do?
After our Bible study on 2 John, we sat around the kitchen table with mugs of hot cocoa and started brainstorming ways we could guard against false teachers in our everyday lives. Yaya called it “Operation Gospel Shield.” I called it “Truth Squad Planning.” Either way—it was epic. 📝🌟
Here’s what we came up with:
👂 Be Careful What We Listen To
I said, “I think I should double-check who I’m learning from—whether it’s in books, podcasts, or videos. If someone talks about Jesus, I want to make sure their message matches the Bible.”
“Not every good speaker teaches the gospel truth. We have to tune our hearts to God’s Word first.” —Me (Ariel 😉)
That means being thoughtful about what voices shape our thoughts—and making Scripture our #1 playlist. 🎧📖
📖 Test Everything with God’s Word
Daddy added something super important:
“We should always test what we hear against the Bible. If it doesn’t align with the gospel, we gently reject it and hold tight to what’s true.”
He reminded us that prayer and discernment help us tell truth from confusion. Even well-meaning people can mix things up, which is why we need to be like detectives with Bibles in hand—searching for truth like it’s treasure.
💬 Speak the Truth with Love
Yaya gently reminded us:
“Truth without love can divide, but love grounded in truth can heal and connect.”
So when we talk to people who believe something different, we don’t shout or run away—we lean in with kindness and courage. We listen carefully, speak gently, and let God’s truth speak louder than our opinions.
“The goal isn’t to win arguments—it’s to win hearts for Jesus.”
✨ Stand Firm in Faith
John’s message gave me goosebumps (the good kind). Because the truth isn’t just something to know—it’s something to guard.
Jesus isn’t just a name we believe in—He’s the reason we stand firm, shine bright, and keep going when the world feels confusing.
So wherever we are—at home, at school, online, or in the middle of a confusing conversation—we can hold fast to the gospel:
Jesus is fully God, fully human, and His love is real, forever, and true.
When we live that out with grace and courage, we help others stay strong in their faith too. We become like lighthouses—steady, bright, and anchored in truth.
“Stand firm, then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” —Ephesians 6:14
With love, cocoa, and truth-guarding joy,
Ariel 💖
