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MATURE BELIEVERS WALKING IN TRUTH "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (III John 4) "But I do understand John's point. In a spiritual sense, believers who had been under his instruction were his spiritual children, similar to Paul saying that he had "begotten" the Corinthians and was their "father" (I Cor. 4:15). Well, John said that he rejoiced in the fact that his children walked in TRUTH. Truth, of course, is the word of God itself (John 17:17), so John was rejoicing in the fact that his spiritual children (disciples, students, pupils, etc.) were maturing in the Lord and becoming strong believers. Rather than seeing shallowness, immaturity and callowness, I saw discernment and depth, and I feel confident that some of that comes from many years of sitting under my own Biblical instruction. Strong, slow and steady plowing in the scriptures builds great soldiers of God over the long haul. This kind of ministry is not easy, but it works. In fact, it's quite challenging at times, but it works. The sermons are always more than three points and a poem, but they work. No one ever goes home feeling like they just attended a religious pep rally, but they do go home knowing that the word of God was taught and preached, and they are better for it. Sure, there are "easier" churches to attend, and that's just what most folks do, but they always pay the price in the long run. Others stay and reap the benefits. Some of the folks that have continued with me for a couple decades or more have a better grip on the Bible than many preachers that I know, and it's a genuine joy to see them making sound choices and reaching sound conclusions on their own. Like John, I must say, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."