3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Apostle John tells the church in his third letter and in our text today, that his greatest joy is to hear that the church members who he refers to as his children are walking in the truth. Elsewhere we have already established that Apostle John is passionate about the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
John speaks in the place of God. God calls us His children. God rejoices when we who are His children walk in the truth. God knows if we are walking in the truth or not. God doesn’t need to hear it from others. God is all-knowing. God knows but do the people know?
God knows everything. God even knows things about us in the present, past, and future that we know nothing about. God knows how much we are committed to Him and His truth. God knows when we are doing it for the show. God knows when we are just pretending. God knows our walk in the truth even when no one else knows. God knows but do the people know?
The people we interact with know something about us. They know what they see and hear from us. They know what they hear from others about us. There is what people know and speak about us. What people say about you is what they know about you. They may be wrong, but that is what they know. They may be speaking based on a malicious rumor, but actually, your life may not have provided evidence to the contrary of what has been malicious said. While God knows about us, we should also be concerned about what is known about us. God knows but do the people know?
What people say about us generally shouldn’t bother us, because it’s mostly based on jealousy and the human sinful nature of competing and desiring to be better than others. However, if what people say about our faith, puts to question our commitment to God, we must be concerned and do our best to rectify it. It is unhealthy to be continuously worried about what people say about your day-to-day life and the decisions you make. Such a worry would cause you to live your life at the behest of others, and that means you will never find fulfillment.
1 Corinthians 10:32-33
(32) Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God — (33) even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
We should be deliberate that for the sake of our faith, a good word will be out there about us. We should be well spoken of. God knows everything about us, but we should be concerned about what people know about us. God knows but do the people know?
Two tests that we must consciously work hard to pass. First, what God knows about us and the faith we profess. Secondly, what people know about us and the faith we profess. We shouldn’t just be satisfied with claiming that God knows, we must ask ourselves what the people know and work on it. God knows, but do the people know?
1 Samuel 2:26
And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with people.
Luke 2:52
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
We must favor God and man in our life. That is the balance we all need. To only think about God and not people is not a life of faith. To only think about people and not God is an empty life. We need to live a life that favors both God and people. If God knows you are highly committed the people too must know it. God knows, but do the people know?
Apostle John tells the church that he has heard about their faith and it gives him joy. Hearing about means the people who interact with the church members have affirmed their faith. God knows and now the people know and that pleases John and sure pleases God. God knows but do the people know?
God knows you love Him, but do the people know? God knows you had good intentions when you hurt the other person, but do the people know? God knows you are not a criminal, a drug abuser, etc., but when those are the people you hang around all the time, what would the people know? God knows but what do the people know?
God knows it’s a clean relationship, but when you are found in compromising places frequently and always together, what would the people know? God knows but what do the people know? God knows your position on that matter, but when you remain silent in the committee meeting, what would the people know? God knows but what do the people know? God knows you do not discriminate, but when discrimination happens in your presence and you have authority to change things but you do not, what would the people know? God knows but what do the people know?
Romans 2:24
As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
It is not a valid Christian excuse to claim that God knows and I don’t care what people know or say. The Bible wants us to care about it. God’s name should not be blasphemed because of us. We must do everything we can to ensure that we are well spoken of for the sake of God’s name.
There is a difference between being well spoken of for self-centered purposes and being well spoken of for God’s sake. For self-centered purposes is for self-promotion so that you gain something. For God’s sake, you only focus on God’s glory even at your own loss. We must please God and please people for God’s sake. Therefore, God knows but people around us must also know. God knows, but do the people know?
May God make us acceptable in His sight. May God make us sensitive to things that can cause God’s name to be tarnished. Give us sensitivity in public, at work, in school, at the market, in church, in heated situations, in moments of offense, in unguarded moments of pleasure, etc., in Jesus’ name, Amen!
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Amen
Amen!
Amen..
Amen!
Timely message Pastor may I live in favour of God and Man
Amen!
Amen
Amen!
Amen. Father, may we always be in favor with you and man. Forgive us for the many times we have terribly ashamed you.
Thanks a lot Dr.
Hallelujah!