Tag: walking in truth
Fellow workers!
Scripture reading for November 27: 3 John
“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.” 3 John 2-8
John’s third letter gives us insight into what gives God and pastors great joy. John began with a prayer for the pastor that all would go well with his soul and that he would be in good health. John rejoiced with Gaius, the beloved elder of this church, that the believers were walking in the truth. Faith always pleases God and is a source of joy for church leadership.
John had encouragement for the church there as they were showing hospitality to some strangers. These were brothers who were fellow workers in Christ’s kingdom and they had given John a good report on the generosity and hospitality of this church. John confirmed their good deeds and generosity and suggested that this church send these brothers on their way in a manner worthy of God Himself. These workers were living by faith and accepted nothing from the Gentiles that they might preach the Gospel to them. When believers support these missionary workers, they share in the harvest that is reaped and bring God’s joy, blessing and provision flowing back towards them. This world view would bless the church and God!
Are you sometimes reluctant to support those who are missionaries and may be strangers to you? Are you aware that when you support missionaries, you actually share in their work and bring joy to God by your faith? Is it also wise to seek the recommendation of elders concerning missionary workers?
Prayer: Father God, I want to please You and bring joy to those in church leadership. Help me to discern those who are reaping a harvest and sowing the Gospel from those who may be deceivers. I desire to prosper and be in health because of a healthy soul that is generous towards kingdom workers. Amen.
A Pastor’s heart
Scripture reading for December 19: 2 John; 3 John
“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 3rd John 2
John open his third letter with a greeting to his personal friend, Gaius, and a short prayer for him. Prayer should shape everything we do. It is an act of love coming from a soul that is healthy and focused on God’s will and His desire to love and bless others. This short prayer reveals John’s heart for his friend and us as well!
“I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.” 2 John 4 “It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3rd John 3-4
Our reputation gets around in the church. If we are faithful and walk in the truth, everyone knows about it. Faithfulness brings great joy to God and to those in authority in the church. Those in authority have to give an account to the Lord for those they oversee. (Hebrews 13:17) When pastors talk to the Lord about those who are disobedient and unfaithful, it brings sorrow and painful intercession! Gaius had been walking in the truth and blessing visiting missionaries by providing for their needs. He was commended!
“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.” (3rd John 9-10)
Diotrephes was one of those brothers that was causing pain to the Apostle and others in the body of Christ. A bad reputation spreads around and must be dealt with. If the person will not change and repent after confrontation, others in the church must be warned so that they are not caught up in the sins. John wanted to come personally and deal with the situation, and would soon.
This short letter shows us how our personal attitudes and actions affect others and are known in the body of Christ. Leaders must have a good reputation. When we love to be first like Diotrephes, our selfishness causes troubles and indicates that we are not from God. (3rd John 11) If we are a loving servant, like Gaius and Demetrius (3rd John 12), we show by love that Christ’s love is in us! There’s no greater joy for a pastor than to have God’s people walking in truth and love!
Walk it out!
Scripture reading for November 29th: 2nd John
Key Scriptures: 2nd John 4-8 “I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. And now I ask you, dear lady–not as though I were writing you a new commandment but the one we have had from the beginning–that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 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.”
In this short letter, John writes to ‘the elect lady and her children.’ Most commentators believe that John was writing to a female church leader and the church members. His greatest joy came from finding some of the church members walking in the truth and loving each other. Jesus taught that the simple command to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves was the greatest commandment. He emphasized to His disciples that they were to walk out their love for one another and by this all men would know that they were His disciples. We are to love those made in God’s image. Jesus Christ came to earth in a fleshly body and demonstrated God’s love through healing, relationships, and teaching. Deceivers tried to deny Jesus was a man in a human body. This is the spirit of antichrist. Don’t even welcome them into your homes.
2nd John 9-11 “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 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.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for perfectly walking out a life of obedience to all God’s commandments and summarizing them in the simple command to love one another and love God. May I bring joy to Your heart and church leadership by my walk of truth and love. Help me today to discern those with the antichrist spirit in the church and world and avoid their false doctrines.
2nd John 3 “Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.”
Joy in Truth!
Scripture reading for November 27th: Ezekiel 38-40, 3 John
Key Scriptures: 3 John 2-4 “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
John, the Apostle, wrote this short letter to a beloved friend, Gaius. Gaius may have been saved under John’s ministry. His prayer for this friend was for God’s blessing and good health as he walked with the Lord Jesus. John was blessed by the testimony of other believers who had been with Gaius and saw how he walked in the truth of the Gospel and welcomed other traveling ministers and missionaries. In doing so, he was helping fulfill the Lord’s command to take the Gospel to the nations. This is how to walk in truth.
Ezekiel 39:28-29 “Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them into exile among the nations and then assembled them into their own land. I will leave none of the remaining among the nations anymore. And I will not hide My face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord God.”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the Truth of the Gospel revealed to me by the Holy Spirit. May there be reports of my walking in Your truth bringing a smile to You and others. Amen.
Walk in Truth!
Scripture reading for November 28th: 3rd John
Key Scriptures for over-comers: 3rd John 2-4 “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
John’s final letter is written to a believing friend, Gaius. This personal letter contains a short prayer for his friend’s health and prosperity. John prays that he may enjoy good health and prosperity as his soul is prospering. John encourages his friend to continue in faithfulness and applied truth. These things bring health, wealth, and joy to a pastor’s heart as well as God’s heart!
Observations for over-comers: Our walk and talk must always line up with the Truth of God’s word and Spirit. This brings well-being and health! “My son, pay attention to what I say, listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.” (Proverbs 4:20-22)
Fully rewarded!
Scripture reading for November 26th: 2nd John
The second letter of John was written in the later years of his life to either a specific lady and her children or to a church family. John wrote to encourage this family to continue to walk in the truth and to beware of false teachers and their destructive doctrines. This simple letter encourages us today!
“It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands.” (2 John 4-6) It gives great delight to pastors and church elders when people actually walk in the truth of God’s word. It also brings pleasure to God when we walk in faith! (Hebrews 11:6) Faith works by love, and God is love! We love God when we by faith trust in the goodness and blessedness of His commands and walk in loving obedience.
“Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but will be fully rewarded.” (2 John 7-8) John wanted this lady and her children to be aware of the deceivers. He wanted them to continue to live in obedience to the Lord and love each other. The false teachers were trying to destroy their faith and get them into sin. They were not to receive them or they would share in their wicked work and lose their reward!
Sunday rest and reflection!
Scripture reading for December 21st: 3rd John
“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 3rd John 2
John opens his letter with a greeting to his personal friend, Gaius, and a short prayer for him. Prayer should shape everything we do. It is an act of love coming from a soul that is healthy and focused on God’s will and desire to love and bless others. This short prayer reveals John’s heart for his friend and blesses him and us today, as well!
“It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3rd John 3-4
Our reputation gets around in the church. If we are faithful and walk in the truth, everyone knows about it. Faithfulness brings great joy to God and to those in authority in the church. Those in authority have to give an account to the Lord for those they oversee. (Hebrews 13:17) When pastors talk to the Lord about those who are disobedient and unfaithful, it brings sorrow and painful intercession! Gaius had been walking in the truth and blessing visiting missionaries by providing for their needs. He demonstrated Christ’s love to those preaching the gospel and was commended!
“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.” (3rd John 9-10)
Diotrephes was one of those brothers that was causing pain to the Apostle and others in the body of Christ. A bad reputation also spreads around and must be dealt with. If the person will not change and repent after confrontation, others in the church must be warned so that they are not caught up in the sins. This letter shows how John was doing this. He wanted to come personally and deal with the situation, and would soon if he could.
This short letter shows us how our personal attitudes and actions affect others and are known in the body of Christ. Leaders must have a good reputation. When you love to be first like Diotrephes, this selfishness causes troubles and indicates that you are not from God. (3rd John 11) If you are a loving servant, like Gaius and Demetrius (3rd John 12), you show by your love that Christ’s love and truth is in you! It’s pretty simple really! There’s no greater joy for a pastor than to have God’s people walking in truth and love!
Walking in the truth!
Reading for December 20th, 2014
Today we have the short letter of 2nd John as our reading. Here are a few Scriptures that speak to me from this short letter. May they minister to your heart as you rest this day.
“Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.” 2nd John 3
“It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love. “ 2nd John 4-6
‘Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.” 2nd John 7
“I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.” 2nd John 12
Have a great day of rest–talk to the Lord face to face and be filled with His joy and peace!
Prosperity and health!
Scripture reading for December 21st: 3rd John
“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” (3rd John 2) John opened his letter with a greeting to his personal friend, Gaius, and a short prayer for him.
“It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3rd John 3-4) If we are faithful and walk in the truth, everyone knows about it. Faithfulness brings great joy to God and to those in authority in the church. Those in authority have to give an account to the Lord for those they oversee. (Hebrews 13:17) When pastors talk to the Lord about those who are disobedient and unfaithful, it brings sorrow and painful intercession! Gaius had been walking in the truth and blessing visiting missionaries by providing for their needs. He demonstrated Christ’s love to those preaching the gospel and was commended!
“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.” (3rd John 9-10)
Diotrephes was one of those brothers that was causing pain to the Apostle and others in the body of Christ. A bad reputation also becomes known. If the person will not change and repent, others in the church must be warned so that they are not caught up in these sins. John wanted to come personally and deal with the situation.
This short letter shows us how our personal attitudes affect others and are known in the body of Christ. Leaders must have a good reputation. When you love to be first like Diotrephes, selfishness indicates that you are not from God. (3rd John 11) If you are a loving servant, like Gaius and Demetrius (3rd John 12), you show by your love that Christ’s love and truth is in you! There’s no greater joy for a pastor than to have God’s people walking in truth and love!
Walking in Truth!
Scripture reading for December 20th: 2nd John
What a journey through God’s word we have enjoyed! Only three more letters and we will finish this year’s trip and prepare for another! Our goal has been to find Jesus speaking to us in each book and letter of God’s word. I am amazed at how each time I sit down to read and write, the Holy Spirit opens up some aspect of the passage for me. Here are a few Scriptures that speak to me from this short letter. May they minister to your heart today.
“Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.” 2nd John 3 John’s emphasis begins with God’s amazing grace, mercy and peace. These are with us because of God’s love and truth! Revelation of God’s goodness comes through His Word!
“It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love. “ 2nd John 4-6
‘Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.” (2nd John 7) As in John’s day, our world is full of deception. We must walk in love and truth!
“I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.” (2nd John 12) Personal interaction is God’s desire with each of His children!
Jesus desired His people walk in love. Love is from God and God is love! He commands His people to walk in love towards each other. It is not just a suggestion. We are also to walk in truth as well. This also is a direct command of the Father. When we walk in truth and love, we bring joy to our parents and spiritual leaders. May you bless those around you with God’s amazing love!