No Greater Joy

Sunday our church’s sermon was from 3 John. As we read the passage, verse 4 jumped out at me because it is highlighted in my Bible.

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.

3 John 3-4

Over the many years of youth ministry, I have found these verses to be true. I have often told our kiddos that nothing brings me more joy than to see them trusting and loving God with all their heart, soul, and mind. There are few things that grieve me more than when they reject God and follow the world or try to live with one foot on God’s path and one foot in the world’s way.

In the sermon (and John’s letter), Gaius’ and the good fruit he bore were contrasted with Diotrephes and the bad fruit he bore. First, why did John rejoice and have “no greater joy” in Gaius? Gaius was walking in the truth. His walk was so evident that brothers in Christ were testifying to it (vs 3-4). Gaius was faithful in showing hospitality to and encouraging teachers who came to his town (vs 5). His love for others was so obvious that these same teachers announced it before the church (vs 6). Gaius’ support and love for these teachers enabled them to continue spreading the Gospel (vs 6-8).

Second, why was Diotrephes cause for rebuke not joy? Although a leader, he was not walking in the truth. He didn’t show hospitality and encourage vs 10). Instead, he was putting himself first (vs 9), he rejected the Apostles authority (vs 9), he talked wicked nonsense against the Apostles, he refused to welcome the brothers, and he stopped and put out of the church those who were welcoming the brothers (vs 10). Diotrephes was hindering the Gospel and discouraging those who were walking in the truth and spreading the Gospel.

My initial response was thinking of the kiddos we have worked with and good or bad fruit in their lives, but then I flipped it around. Although God is ultimately responsible for the good fruit in our kiddos’ lives, I need to ask whether I am hindering or encouraging that good fruit to grow.

Gaius was someone to be imitated just as Paul called on the Corinthian church to imitate him as he imitated Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:1). Am I someone that our kiddos (or anyone) should imitate because I am imitating and reflecting Jesus? In the sermon, Jonny Kiedrowski said, “Don’t imitate works. Imitate faith that works.” I don’t want our kiddos simply imitating my outward works like a checklist. Like Gaius, I want my works to flow from a true heart of faith and love resulting from walking in the truth. Biblical imitation should originate from inward heart transformation not just transformed outward action.

Now the thought of someone imitating you might be frightening. It is for me. I see my own daily sin and think I would be more like Diotrephes, hindering others instead of encouraging their walk in the truth. This morning I was reading 1 Corinthians 13:12. “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” Paul was reminding the Corinthians that where they might boast in their knowledge, it was actually dim, partial, whereas God’s knowledge of us is perfect.

My imitation of Jesus is dim and partial, but Jesus is not. He is the image of the Invisible God (Colossians 1:15), and “in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell (Colossians 1:19). Every moment of His life, Jesus reflected His Father (John 14:9). He lived a sinless life. He always walked in the truth. He was the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). His atoning death and resurrection mean that those who are in Him receive His perfect record of obedience. We may not always be worth imitating, but God can still use us to point to Jesus who is worth imitating. God can use the good fruit in our lives to bring glory to Himself (Matthew 5:16).

The result of walking in the truth is God’s glory. Not only did Gaius’ life bring glory to God, but the brothers’ and John’s response was glorifying God for the work He had done in Gaius. What an amazing and humbling truth that God in His grace and mercy uses our lives for His glory.

Reflection

1. If someone imitated you, would they be hindered or encouraged to bear good fruit? Are you walking in truth? Are you faithful in supporting, encouraging, and sending out those with the Gospel message? Are you proclaiming the Gospel yourself? Is your love for others evident? Can Jesus be seen in you? Take time to pray and ask God to conform you to the image of Jesus in one specific area where you know you are weak. We can be thankful that God promises He will complete the work He has begun of conforming us to the image of Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

2. Who can you praise God for because they bring you “no greater joy” as they are walking in the truth? Tell that person how they have brought you joy walking in the truth.

3. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” Walking in the truth requires knowing God’s truth – Scripture. God’s Word teaches us, it shows us where we are wrong/sinning, it tells what the right response is, and it trains us how to walk in the truth of what we know is right.

Not only do we have God’s Word to walk in the truth, but God has given us others to help us walk in the truth. This is why discipleship is important. We should be both one who is being imitated as well as one who is imitating another walking in truth. Do you have a person you are encouraging to walk in the truth? Do you have a person who is helping you walk in the truth? If you don’t, take time to pray. Ask God who He might have you walk in the truth with?