Keep Walking in the Truth

"No greater joy do I have than this: that I should hear that my children go on walking in the truth." - 3 JOHN 4.

CAN you imagine how happy the apostle John felt when he heard that those whom he had helped to learn the truth were continuing to serve Jehovah faithfully?  They faced many problems, and John was working hard to strengthen the faith of these loyal Christians whom he viewed as his spiritual children. Similarly, we feel happy when our children, whether natural or spiritual dedicate themselves to Jehovah and persevere in serving him. - Read 3 JOHN 4.

In 98 C.E., John was likely living in or near Ephesus. He may have moved there after being released from exile from the island of Patmos. About that time, Jehovah's holy spirit moved him to write three letters.  The purpose of those letters was to motivate loyal Christians to maintain their faith in Jesus and to keep on walking in the truth.

John was the last living apostle, and he was concerned about the effect that false teachers were having on the congregations. (1 John 2:18, 19, 26) Those apostates claimed to know God, but they did not obey Jehovah's commands. Let us consider the inspired counsel John gave. As we do will answer three questions: What does it mean to walk in the truth?  What obstacles do we face? And how can we help one another to remain in the truth?

Next time: Keep Walking in the Truth - The Background to John's Letters

From the jw.org publications