Helping others walk in the truth of God's Word
For I was very glad when fellow believers came and testified to your fidelity to the truth—how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in truth. 3 John 1:3-4 CSB
Just like how John previously commended the believers (see 2 John 4), once again, he repeated his praise, this time for his friend, Gaius: “I was very glad” because “fellow believers came and testified to your fidelity to the truth—how you are walking in truth.” Gaius’ faithfulness to Jesus Christ, amidst the false teachers, was well known among the believers in the church. His testimony spread throughout the congregation and churches, to the point it reached the ears of John. Such testimony proved that Gaius followed Christ’s example. “The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked” (1 John 2:6). Such faithfulness to the Lord becomes contagious that John was not only elated with Gaius but to those whom he calls “children” in the faith. “I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in truth.” This proves that believers who were once in darkness and because they have surrendered their lives to Christ, will walk in the light of God’s Word. “If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). In this short greeting, we can learn two things: we need to be faithful, for our testimony matters; second, we should celebrate and encourage one another’s walk with the Lord. Gaius was faithful to the Lord, and now, two thousand years later, we read about this and become aware. God has been faithful and loving to us and it is paramount to us that we should reciprocate His faithful love. And as John encourages and celebrates his friend’s faithfulness, we too should encourage and celebrate our fellow believers to continue to remain faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ. Just like John, let us also become spiritual fathers to those whom God had entrusted to us and minister to them through the truth of God’s Word. Paul knew also that he was entrusted by God to help other believers mature in their faith. “For you may have countless instructors in Christ, but you don’t have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15).
Blessings,
Isaac De Guzman
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