April 15, 2019 -- III John 4 -- Not 'your truth' but the Truth

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

III John 4 ESV

The third letter of John is just 15 verses long. Don’t be fooled by how short it is, the message is disproportionately big. This letter was written by Jesus’ disciple John—who was known as the beloved disciple. And John was using the word “truth” as shorthand for the Name of Jesus (remember, Jesus said “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6)

John by this time is likely quite elderly. He writes to this man Gaius and the church Gaius is at and calls the members “my children”. And then we come to our text—a big statement, bold and thought-provoking. John has no greater joy than to know his children are walking in the Truth, walking in relationship with Jesus Christ.

What is your greatest hope for your children: enough money to be better off than you; a good education that will take them places; an excellent marriage; shrewd business sense; that they be happy; that they get along with their siblings; (add in your own expectations). John trumps them all: that my children walk in the Truth. That is his greatest hope and greatest joy.

To walk in the Truth, which means to walk with Jesus, is security in this life—in riches or poverty, sickness or health, amidst acclaim or scorn, no matter one’s circumstances—to walk in the Truth is the greatest privilege ever. And such peace lasts throughout this life-time to eternity. For those who acknowledge Jesus Christ in this world will themselves be acknowledged by Jesus in the next as His faithful friends.

How will our children walk in the Truth? First and foremost, we need to be convinced of the fact that these days we live in are evil days and that the world and its ways are not compatible with knowing Jesus Christ as the Truth. And live with the great assurance and confident hope that Jesus won the victory over Satan at the cross and by His resurrection from the dead. Then:

We need to introduce them to the Bible—daily readings.

We need to pray with our children and teach them to pray.

We need to help them see Jesus in all of life.

We need to counter all the nonsense the world is teaching our children. This world hates God and is in open rebellion against Jesus. We need to show our children in each step how much the world hates Jesus and His exclusive claim as the Only Way to the Father—but just because He is hated, does not mean He is wrong.

We need to constantly show the tawdry things of the world for the vanities they are. The devil will constantly promise all kinds of good he cannot deliver—he is the Father of Lies. Therefore as parents and believers we must expose his lies and show the consequences of following after his death-trap ways.

In all this, brothers and sisters in Jesus, know that our efforts are not what makes the difference. We live in the great assurance of God’s majestic love. He will make our efforts to be fruitful. Jesus Christ knows those who are His Own and He will draw them to Himself.

Holy Jesus, our victory in a world of strife and battles, blessed be Your Name.

We plead with You for our children and grandchildren that they will not be snared and entangled in the sinful things of this world. Give us the vision and persistence we need to guide our children in the Truth.

Thank You Jesus that You have already won the victory over sin and death and hell. Thank You Jesus that by Your blood believers are sons and daughters of the Most High God. Thank You Jesus, for the gift of Your Holy Spirit Who opens the Bible to us; guides us in all Truth; gives us discernment to distinguish good from evil; and is the deposit guaranteeing our eternal inheritance.

As You have promised in Your Word, so give us peace, God of Glory, that we may be islands of calm testifying to Your grace in a storm-tossed, wicked world. Let the peace of Christ so rule our hearts that others will be drawn to us and ask us about Him Who is Truth. Amen.