Walking in The Truth

The truth was in Gaius and Gaius walked in a the truth. If the first had not been the case, the second could never have occurred. If the second could not be said of him, the first would have been a mere pretense.

Truth must enter into the soul, penetrate and saturate it or else it is of no value. Doctrines held as a matter of mere creed are like bread in the hand, which ministers no nourishment to the body. But doctrine accepted by the heart, is as food digested, which, by assimilation, sustains and builds up the body.

Truth must be a living force in us, an active energy, an indwelling reality, a part of the warp and woof of our being.

It is a rule of nature that the inward affects the outward, as light shines from the center of the lantern through the glass. When, therefore, the truth is kindled within its brightness soon beams forth in the outward life and conduct.

It is said that the food of certain silkworms, colors the cocoons of silk which they spin. In the same way, the nutriment upon which a man's inward nature lives gives a tinge to every word and deed proceeding from him.

To walk in the truth, imports a life of integrity, holiness, faithfulness, and simplicity, the natural product of those principles of truth which the gospel teaches, and which the Spirit of God enables us to receive. We may judge of the secrets of the soul by their manifestation in the man's life.

Be it ours today, O gracious Spirit, to be ruled and governed by Your divine authority, so that nothing false or sinful may reign in our hearts, lest it extend its malignant influence to our daily walk among men.

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

3 John 3 ...For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

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Moral and Spiritual Parasites

There are moral and spiritual parasites which throttle, kill, injure, or retard the growth of the spiritual life!

1. The parasite of sloth will hinder the grace of watchfulness as it did the five virgins. Matthew 25:5

2. The parasite of worldliness will kill the grace of devotion as it did in Demas. 2 Timothy 4:10

3. The parasite of pride will devastate the grace of humility as it did with the Devil. 1 Timothy 3:6

4. The parasite of unbelief will keep down the grace of faith as is seen in the children of Israel. Hebrews 3:17-19

5. The parasite of self-importance will kill the grace of self-denial as is stated of Diotrephes. 3 John 9

6. The parasite of avarice will stifle the grace of reality as is evidenced in Achan. Joshua 7:21

7. The parasite of covetousness will strangle the grace of generosity as is manifest in Balaam. 2 Peter 2:15

[Frederick Marsh]

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John Wesley's Rule for Christian Living:

Do all the good you can,
   by all the means you can,
   in all the ways you can,
   in all the places you can,
   at all the times you can,
   to all the people you can,
   as long as ever you can!

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Micah 6:8 ... He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Luke 6:31 ... And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

3 John 11 ... Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.❤

A Loving Purpose

What is "prosperity?" Is it threads of life weaved into a bright outcome? a full cup? ample riches? worldly applause? an unbroken circle? No! these are often a snare; received without gratitude; dimming the soul to its nobler destinies. Often spiritually, it rather means God taking us by the hand into the lowly Valleys of Humiliation; leading us as He did His servant Job of old; out of his sheep, oxen, camels, health, wealth, children; in order that we may be brought before Him in the dust, and say, "Blessed be His holy name!"

Yes! The very reverse of what is generally known in the world as Prosperity forms the background on which the Rainbow of Promise is seen. God smiles on us through these rainbows and teardrops of sorrows! He loves us too well. He has too great an interest in our spiritual welfare to permit us to live on in what is misnamed "Prosperity." When He sees duties languidly performed, or coldly neglected, the heart deadened, and love to Himself congealed by the absorbing power of the present world.  He puts a thorn in our nest to drive us to the wing and prevent our being grovelers forever!

I may not be able now to understand the mystery of these dealings. I may be asking through the tears, "Why this unkind arrest on my earthly happiness? Why so premature a lopping of my boughs of promise? Why such a speedy withering of my most cherished gourd?" The answer is plain. It is your soul's prosperity which He has in view. Believe it; your true Ebenezers will yet be raised close by your Zarephaths (the place of furnace).

His afflictions are no arbitrary appointments. There is righteous necessity in all that He does. As He lays His chastening hand upon you, and leads you by ways you know not, and which you never would have chosen.  He whispers the gentle accents in your ear, "Beloved I wish above all things that you would prosper even as your soul prospers."

Rest in the quiet consciousness that all is well. Murmur at nothing which brings you nearer to His own loving Presence. Be thankful for your very cares, because you can confidently cast them all upon Him. He has both your temporal and eternal "prosperity" too much at heart to appoint one superfluous pang, one needless stroke. Commit therefore, all that concerns you to His safe keeping, and leave it there!

 

[John MacDuff]

 

 

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Psalm 35:27 ... Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

 

 

Psalm 1:3 ... And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

 

 

Zechariah 8:12 ... For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.

 

 

3 John 1:2 ...  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. ❤

Badge

To be found in Christ, not having our own righteousness, which is of the law, but having the righteousness which is of God by faith (Philippians 3:9), is a very prominent badge of a real servant of God, and to refuse it is to manifest opposition to the glory of God, and to the name, person, and work of his exalted Son.

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Proverbs 11:23 ... The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.


1 John 2:15 ... Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.


3 John 1:11 ... Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.


2 Corinthians 6:17 ... Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

James 1:21 … Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.❤

Pleasing God

We make a great mistake if we think of pleasing God as a compartment of life marked “spiritual” or “religious” rather than as a total way of life involving pleasing God in all its aspects.

[Alistair Begg]

3 John 1:3... For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

2 Corinthians 5:9 ... Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

1 John 2:6 ... He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.❤

Victories of the Cross

Come, and see the victories of the cross. Christ's wounds are thy healings, His agonies thy repose, His conflicts thy conquests, His groans thy songs, His pains thine ease, His shame thy glory, His death thy life, His sufferings thy salvation.

[Matthew Henry]

3 John 1:2 … Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.


Isaiah 53:5 … But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.


Psalm 103:2-5 … Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.


1 Corinthians 15:57 … But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ♥