Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

December 29
Sunday


LETTER TO
A CHILD

READ:
3 John
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I have no greater joy
than to hear that my
children walk in truth.
__3 John 4
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Even at the end of his life, C. S. Lewis showed an interest in the spiritual nurture of younger believers. Although in ill health, he took time to respond to the letter of a child named Philip. Complimenting the boy's fine written expression, Lewis said he was delighted that Philip understood that in the Narnia Chronicles the lion Aslan represented Jesus Christ. The next day, Lewis died at his home in the Kilns, Oxford, England, one week before his 65th birthday.

The apostle John, in his later years, sent a letter to his spiritual children. In it we see the joy of a mature believer ecnouraging his spiritually younger disciples to keep walking in the truth and following Christ.

John wrote, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth" (3 John 1:4). Short by New testament standards, John's letter demonstrates the joy that comes in nurturing and watching the next generation's spiritual growth.

Encouraging spiritual understanding in the next generation should be the pursuit of mature believers. Sending a note of appreciation, giving a word of encouragement, praying, or offering sound advice can all be ways of helping others on their spiritual journey with God. __dennis Fisher

``````````````````````````````To help another in Christ to grow````````````````````````B
```````````````````````````````````you have to pay a price`````````````````````````````
````````````````````````````````It takes the giving of yourself```````````````````````````
```````````````````````````And that means sacrifice. __D. DeHaan```````````````````````
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The Journey is better with someone
who knows the way.

********************************Today's Bible Reading __ 3 John********************************

1 The Elder,
To the beloved Gaius,
whom I love in truth:

2 Beloved, I pray that you
may prosper in all things
and be in health, just as
your soul prospers. 3 For I
rejoiced greatly when
brethren came and testified
of the truth that is in you,
just as you walk in the
truth. 4 I have no greter joy
than to hear that my
children walk in truth.

5 Beloved, you do
faithfully whatever you do
for the brethren and for
strangers, 6 who have borne
witness of your love before
the church. If you send
them forward on their
journey in a manner worthy
of God, you will do well,

7 because they went forth
for His name's sake, taking
nothing from the Gentiles.

8 We therefore ought to
receive such, that we may
become fellow workers for
the truth....

11 Beloved, do not imitate
what is evil, but what is
good. He who does good is
of God, but he who does
evil has not seen God.

12 Demetrius has a good
testimony from all, and
from the truth itself. And
we also bear witness, and
you know that our
testimony is true.

13 I had many things to
write, but I do not wish to
write to you with pen and
ink; 14 but I hope to see you
shortly, and we shall speak
face to face.

Peace to you. Our friends
greet you. Greet the friends
by name.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
John commended two men, Gaius (v.1) and Demetrius (v.12), for
their faithfulness to the Lord and for their love for fellow believers
(vv.3-8,12). Their examples are to be emulated (v.11). In contrast,
John condemned Diotrephes, who was proud and self-important and
motivated by self-love and selfish ambition (vv.9-11).