Bible League: Living His Word I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.— 3 John 4 NKJV This verse came to my mind this weekend because my newest grandson is being baptized on Sunday. He will be among the fourth generation to wear a baptismal gown hand-made by my great aunt in the 1940s. Some who see such a display (it is a long, fancy, lacy thing) comment that it is a very nice family tradition. To me, it means much more than tradition. To me, it is a symbol, a little bit like that of baptism itself, of the covenant faithfulness of God to generations of my biological family. God intended for fathers to pass down the knowledge of God to their children (Deuteronomy 6:7). We have the examples of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Judah; and when our children take up the faith of their parents as their own, we praise the Lord. I rejoice and thank the Lord that my biological family has a history of faith. I treasure it. John, the beloved disciple and gospel writer, was not speaking of his biological children when he penned this verse in a letter to Gaius. John also references children in his other two letters (1 John 2:1, 2 John 1). Whose children is he talking about? Just as Paul called Titus "a true son in our common faith," I believe John is referring to his spiritual children. He is using this endearing term for the members of the Church. He has taught them and discipled them as a father would, and now he rejoices more than anything else that they have taken up the faith as their own and walk in the truth. But are they really John's children, and then whose child is John? All believers are heirs together with Christ, the Son of God. That means we are all God's children. And we know He rejoices to see His children walk in truth. "Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels and of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:10). We are adopted sons of God, not begotten like Jesus, but that did not make us less in God's sight. In fact, He gave His only begotten Son up to death on a cross so that the adopted sons could join the family. And Jesus did not scorn this task either. He did not resent that He had to suffer for a motley crew of adopted sinners. No, but "Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross..." (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus saw it as joy that His Father was adopting all of these children at His expense. Those of us who are parents (or have been children raised by parents) know that raising children in the Lord is a high calling and difficult task, and at the end of it, true faith is not guaranteed. However, when by the grace of God it comes through, it's brilliant! By Grace Barnes, Bible League International volunteer, Michigan U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Kings 12, 13 1 Kings 12 -- Israelites Rebel against Rehoboam; Kingdom Divided; Jeroboam begins Idol Worship NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Kings 13 -- Jeroboam's Hand Withered and Restored; Prophet Reproved NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 24:36-53 Luke 24 -- The Resurrection; Road to Emmaus; Appearances to disciples, Ascension NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But for those who are righteous,the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them. LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart's desire is to glorify your name. Insight At times the path of the righteous doesn't seem smooth and it isn't easy to do God's will, but we are never alone when we face tough times. God is there to help us through difficulties, to comfort us, and to lead us. God does this by giving us a purpose and giving us provisions as we travel. God provides us with relationships of family, friends, and mentors. God gives us wisdom to make decisions and faith to trust him. Challenge Don't despair; stay on God's path. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 John 4:13 We dwell in him.Do you want a house for your soul? Do you ask, "What is the purchase?" It is something less than proud human nature will like to give. It is without money and without price. Ah! you would like to pay a respectable rent! You would love to do something to win Christ? Then you cannot have the house, for it is "without price." Will you take my Master's house on a lease for all eternity, with nothing to pay for it, nothing but the ground-rent of loving and serving him forever? Will you take Jesus and "dwell in him?" See, this house is furnished with all you want, it is filled with riches more than you will spend as long as you live. Here you can have intimate communion with Christ and feast on his love; here are tables well-stored with food for you to live on forever; in it, when weary, you can find rest with Jesus; and from it you can look out and see heaven itself. Will you have the house? Ah! if you are houseless, you will say, "I should like to have the house; but may I have it?" Yes; there is the key--the key is, "Come to Jesus." "But," you say, "I am too shabby for such a house." Never mind; there are garments inside. If you feel guilty and condemned, come; and though the house is too good for you, Christ will make you good enough for the house by-and-by. He will wash you and cleanse you, and you will yet be able to sing, "We dwell in him." Believer: thrice happy art thou to have such a dwelling-place! Greatly privileged thou art, for thou hast a "strong habitation" in which thou art ever safe. And "dwelling in him," thou hast not only a perfect and secure house, but an everlasting one. When this world shall have melted like a dream, our house shall live, and stand more imperishable than marble, more solid than granite, self-existent as God, for it is God himself--"We dwell in him." Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 85:10 Lovingkindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.Isaiah 45:21 "Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me. Isaiah 42:21 The LORD was pleased for His righteousness' sake To make the law great and glorious. 2 Corinthians 5:19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Romans 3:25,26 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; • for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. Romans 8:33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; Romans 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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