Spiritual children
John from the text, expresses his joy hearing that his dear friend Gaius is faithfully following and living by the truth. John’s faithful ministry had resulted in producing spiritual children. Nothing provides greater joy than to hear those we ministered to with God’s Word had grown faithfully in their walk with the Lord. What made Gaius and other spiritual children faithful in their walk with the Lord is their obedience to the truth. It is by reading the truth from God’s Word, meditating on it, and living by its message that we grow in our faith and establishes us producing fruit. “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do” (Psalm 1:1-3). We need to apply the Word we heard or read in our lives. Paul also expressed his joy to hear how those who received God’s Word have grown in their faith. “We never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). True living comes from living by the truth of God’s Word. Jesus Christ is the truth revealed in God’s Word. And the Holy Spirit that lives in the lives of believers testify to the truth. “And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth” (1 John 5:6 NIV). It is the Spirit of God that reveals to us the truth and helps us walk in the truth. We have this wonderful privilege to serve the Lord by walking alongside those who have come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. What a joy to hear them remaining in their faith and to find out that they too are producing spiritual children who are living consistent with the gospel. May God help us to be like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ daily reflecting Him in all we say and do.
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
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