II John 4 “It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in truth, just as the Father commanded us.”
Have you ever attended a Christian camp or retreat? Those events are often mountain-top experiences, with everyone in attendance determined to live their lives for God. At least, while they are there. On the mountaintop. But when everyone returns to their normal routines, some of us forget our determination. Before we know it, we have slipped away from the path God has laid out for us.
John must have felt bittersweet as he penned these words. His heart rejoiced that some were walking in truth. But what about the others? Why weren’t they all walking in truth? No matter how well grounded in God’s truth we think we are, we are all capable of straying. We are all capable of being gullible and falling for the world’s lies. We are all capable of outright rebellion.
The only safeguard we have against straying from God’s truth is to stay close to Him, to daily spend time in prayer, in meditation, in His Word. We must daily examine our own hearts to make sure what we find there is pleasing to God. We must recognize that the enemy sees our destruction as his goal, and he will forever try new and clever ways to draw us away from God’s truth. We must step carefully, and make sure that with each step, we are walking in truth.
And if we do stray, all is not lost, for our Shepherd will always come looking for us. As a matter of fact, He always close by. All we have to do is say, “I’m sorry. I took the wrong path,” and He will lead us right back to where we ought to be.
Dear Father, I want my life to be a source of joy for You. I want to always walk in Your truth.
Amen
Renae, I also love the words in 3 John 1:4: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
As kids leave home and become adults, there truly is no greater joy than to know they are walking with Him. I pray that you will know that joy one day!
Hi Cheryl! Yes, that is my prayer, too. And I love that verse, too. 🙂