Christians with adult children who are active in church are richly blessed by God.
Lori and I find great joy in being among those maturing Christians with such kids.
My two biological children, Jessica and Melissa, are active in personal ministry, with Melissa serving in full-time ministry as a children’s minister. And I have a stepdaughter named Jennifer whose heart is active in and hungry for church life.
It’s good to know that these three understand the priority that God desires to have in their lives. We also have two sons-in-law who are actively serving congregations in music leadership roles.
I share this fact today because of the verse below that was part of today’s reading in the One-Year Bible.
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 4).
The specific context of this passage was the Apostle John writing to an elder in a particular congregation in order to encourage and instruct that body. The letter ended up being circulated among Christians in many places, though, because of its inspirational and educational nature.
For the aging apostle to send this letter, there must have been quite a relationship with this congregation.
Some of the members of the congregation were apparently led to Christ by John himself.
It’s a beautiful thing to read of his ongoing concern for their spiritual well-being and of his joy at their continuted faithfulness.
Anybody with years of experience in ministry can relate to John’s joy.
Some people that we led to Christ years ago are still serving Him.
Some of us are experiencing the same joy regarding our own children.
Let’s join to pray for those who have not continued to walk in the truth.
Just because they’ve let go of God’s hand, that doesn’t mean that they can’t reach for it again.
We just need to keep praying for them and walking in the truth ourselves so that they see an example of how and why doing so is vitally important.
One thing is nearly certain — if you and I don’t continue walking in the truth in a very visible, humble way, chances are slim that our wandering loved one will ever return to the flock in God’s pasture.
As always, I love you
Martin
