SEARCHLIGHT
What are you doing to stand for what is true, in society?
SCRIPTURE
It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 3 John 1:3 NIV.
Dear friend, you were faithful in what you were doing for the brothers and sisters, [travelling ministers] even though they are strangers to you. 3 John 1:5 NIV.
SPOTLIGHT
In the 2002 Person of the Year issue of Time Magazine, three women were honored for their integrity and courage for telling the truth. They were identified as whistleblowers, but they were really guarding the truth. Cynthia Cooper was a WorldCom internal auditor who identified that her company was involved in “massive accounting fraud, covering up billions in losses.” Sherron Watkins was an Enron executive. She warned CEO Kenneth Lay about the company’s deceptive accounting practices before its collapse. Coleen Rowley was an FBI staff attorney who exposed that the FBI failed to act on critical intelligence about a 9/11 co-conspirator.
History records that because they chose to guard the truth, major legislative changes followed which required greater corporate accountability and financial regulations.
Will you become a believer who will GUARD THE TRUTH? When you choose to do this, you will become a truthteller. Your desire will be to stand for and defend all truth. A truthteller tells the truth in order to make sure the truth will always be told. This may lead you to put your reputation on the line. Perhaps your popularity may decrease. What matters is that the truth be the guiding light of society.
The Apostle John knew how important it is to understand what is true. He knew truth was not a concept, but found in Jesus Christ, who is “the source, standard and embodiment of all truth.” Throughout his three epistles, he emphasized this point. At least 10 times he used the word “truth” in 1 John, and then at least four times in 2 John, and five times in 3 John. The theme of 1 John is “Know the truth.” The theme of 2 John is “Live the truth,”, and the theme of 3 John is, “Guard the truth.”
What does it mean to GUARD THE TRUTH? Today’s Scripture focus provides some insights from John’s third letter. You can take the following 5 steps:
#1 Be faithful, strong and firm in what you believe. [3 John 1:3a] Protect the fundamentals of the Christian faith. Know what you believe and know why you believe. Study God’s Word. Be prepared to defend your faith.
#2 Be faithful to living the truth. [3 John 1:3b] What you talk, is seen in your walk. Living the truth is more than just knowing what is true. It means living the truth Jesus taught. He is the Way, Truth, and Life. The Gospel affects every part of your life. Do not just lip truth but live truth. Actions speak louder than words. Make sure your behavior compliments your speech.
#3 Be faithful to supporting those who teach the truth. [3 John 1:5-8] John commended the believers for taking care of the travelling ministers who came to their area. Missionaries and pastors are worthy of your support. Be hospitable. When you give to assist these people in their ministry, you will be helping to spread the Good News.
#4 Be alert to people who do not teach Jesus is the truth. [3 John 1:9,10] John identified Diotrephes, who was misleading believers. Discern their intentions. Do not support those who cause division. Avoid people who teach false doctrine. Separate from them.
Will you step forward to GUARD THE TRUTH? Truthtellers are God’s guardians of Christian truth. They are committed to making sure that the Gospel will be accurately and thoroughly handed down to the next generation. They are very intentional about teaching God’s truth, in order to counter deception. Jesus Christ is their truth.
Just as a plumb line is used in construction work, to identify a perfectly vertical line, so the believer identifies that Jesus is the plumb line for living. And just as a compass will direct you as you walk through the fog, to a safe place, so the Christian points people to the true north, namely Jesus Christ. He is the Way, Truth, and Life.
SOMETHING TO DO
Guarding the truth was also something that the Apostle Paul emphasized. Check out the following Scriptures in 1 Corinthians 16:13, 1 Timothy 6:20, 2 Timothy 1:14 and 2 Timothy 4:15.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, I am so grateful to know the truth and also to be able to live the truth. Today I commit myself to guard the truth. Help me to become a strong believer. Empower me, Holy Spirit, to live what I lip, to do what I say, to walk the talk. Show me how to bless pastors and missionaries. Give me divine eyes to see when truth is being distorted and people are being deceived. And may I always do this in love. AMEN!