My Children Walk in Truth

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

3 John 1:4 (NIV)

Being a pastor is one of the toughest jobs on the planet; but John, the disciple of love, says it can also be the most joyful: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4 NIV).

Spiritual leaders must correctly teach God’s Word, confront false teaching before it spreads, proclaim the gospel to non-believers, pray for all people (including you and your family), and train and appoint leaders; and they must do this all while serving as an example of what it looks like when you’re maturing as a Jesus-one (see 1 and 2 Timothy; Titus).

Accordingly, the Apostle Paul says we should respect our spiritual leaders, overwhelming them with appreciation: “Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work” (1 Thessalonians 5:13 NIV).

Disguised as the generic writer of Hebrews, Paul also says, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Hebrews 13:17 NIV).

You can make a big deal about obeying and submitting, but keep in mind that our overarching objective is to become one with Christ, who is one with the Father. In other words, we want our hearts and minds to line up with God’s heart and mind. We submit to God’s heart and mind, and we show our love for him when we obey him.

If a spiritual leader is walking toward oneness with Jesus, who is already at one with the Father, then it’s perfectly reasonable for us to move toward that same oneness with Jesus, meaning we swing into alignment behind our pastor.

From this angle, you can see the enormous responsibility a pastor has to keep in line with God and to encourage you to keep in line.

We live in the nasty now-and-now, so it’s all too easy, even for spiritual leaders, to slip into arguments over who gets to sit at God’s right hand when we all should be outdoing one another in heartfelt, humble service to each other (Matthews 20:20-28).

Pray for your spiritual leaders today, that they continue to walk in the truth, and let them know in some way that you want to bring them joy by walking in the truth with them (3 John 1:4 NIV)...Jon Walker