What Does 3 John 1:4 Mean?

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living according to the truth.

3 John 1:4(ISV)

Verse of the Day

The apostle John must have been advancing in years when he wrote this third, brief epistle to his beloved friend Gaius, whom he loved so dearly. Unlike some other followers of Christ, this man of whom the apostle John spoke so warmly was being a faithful witness to the truth of the gospel, and he was walking in spirit and truth. The actions and attitude of this man towards his fellow believers as well as strangers that crossed his path, reflected the lovely Lord Jesus, causing John to write to this brother in Christ with these words: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

All those that are blood-bought children of God and who are walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus can be said to be walking in the truth of His Word – for those that are born again and living in fellowship with the Lord are those that are living their life in through their new, born-again spirit (their new life in Christ), and not living as carnal believers who continue to live their Christian lives under the influence of the old sin nature.

There is an ongoing attack on the truth. People talk about 'my truth' and 'your truth' as relativism runs rampant and actual truth is pushed out of society. But there is only one truth and His name is Jesus: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Let us plant our feet firmly in the truth and teach our children about Him.

Nothing is more thrilling for a Christian parent, or a believer who has been influential in pointing one younger in the faith to the truth of the gospel, than to see them living according to the truth, walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus, living in submission to the Holy Spirit's guiding hand, living under the influence of the new man in Christ (and not the old sin nature), and reflecting the grace, truth, love, and humility that flows to them from their Saviour. 

My Prayer

Loving Father, thank You that I am Your child and thank You for those babes in Christ that You have placed in my life to shepherd and guide. I pray that all my 'children' - those newer brothers and sisters in Christ, may live according to Your truth. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.

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