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Title: What Are You Known For?
What are you currently known for? All of us have character traits, all of us have stories that we’ve been involved in, all of us have distinct characteristics, both in personality and in experiences that make us unique. Sometimes these things are profound, other times they are not, but they are always distinguishing marks.
Let me give you one example. Years ago in high school I had a friend named Shawn. Shawn loved milk. He drank it at every meal. In fact, when Shawn would go out to restaurants, I mean fancy restaurants, he’d always order a big steak, and a glass of milk. He did this all the time, even at his senior prom.
A few years later when I was in college, I was trying to set up my friend Shawn with one of Mary’s friends because I thought they’d make a good date. When I told Mary’s friend, who had never met Shawn before in her life, she said, “Now Shawn, that’s the milk drinker, right?”
Along the same lines, I think we, too, are also known by several characteristics, even to those who don’t know us well. These characteristics form to together over time to form a reputation. What is your reputation? Are you known as being kind? Fair? Hot-tempered? Funny? Studious? Serious? Sarcastic?
What should you be known for above all else?
Let’s read.
(read 4-6)
“I rejoiced greatly”
John here expresses his enthusiasm to hear that some of the elect lady’s children are walking in truth. Now, going back to last week, I said that I tend to believe this is a personal letter from John to this “elect lady” and that “her family” is her literal household. One of the reasons I hold to that is because of the additional information we see revealed here.
John is talking about “her children” and it would seem a little particular to me that John would give possession in the Greek language to other members of her church.
I wouldn’t call Jane Ringler and say that I’m so glad that the members of HBC “Jane’s Children” are walking in the truth, but I would certainly express that notion to Jane about her daughter Mandy, her son-in-law Aaron, and their four children.
In that sense, giving possession is fine.
Again, let me reiterate, it’s not out of the question that John is writing to this lady and local church, but it seems much more likely that he’s talking about her and her immediate family.
In either case, the key is that John is sharing a joy with her in learning that some of her children are walking in the truth. And what does John define as “the truth”? He defines it “as we received commandment from the Father.”
This is subtle, but I don’t want us to gloss over it. John is intentional about saying this isn’t HIS truth, it isn’t HIS doctrine, but rather THE truth, imputed to these children directly from the Father.
Nothing Changes
John then goes on to remind the lady in verse 5 that he is NOT instituting a new commandment, but just overjoyed that her children have held to what has been revealed to them as truth from the beginning.
It occurs to me that what John may have been fearful of is something that I, too, am also fearful of as a minister of God’s Holy Word: That many of the people I’ve worked with over the years essentially “graduate” from the truth of Orthodox Christianity, and move on to something more sophisticated, something more challenging, something better.
I have met these people all throughout my ministry. I remember a vivid conversation with a man named Joe who said to me, “Ben I’ve done the Christian thing, I’ve experienced it. I was saved and baptized, and I’ve moved on to other things, my perspectives have been broadened, and Christianity just can’t meet my needs. I have nothing against Christ, or the Bible, and for those who find a peace there, good for them, but it just didn’t meet all my spiritual needs.”
I sat for a moment before responding to Joe. I wasn’t sure what to say or how to say it. To this day, I’m not sure if I said the right thing in response. I said to Joe, “Joe, is it possible that you were never really saved? Is it possible that you, because you were an obedient child, attended church all those years with your parents, and, because you were taught at your church that you are baptized as an infant, confirmed at around the age of 14, that you believed you were then saved? I only ask, Joe, because if you were truly saved, you would understand that any lack of fulfillment doesn’t come from a lacking on the part of Christ, but a lacking on the part of your faith to be fulfilled.”
It is for this exact reason that I don’t get worked up over altar calls, or emotional moments. I don’t want you to “play church” like Joe had done for all those years. When you become a believer, or when you rededicate your life, I want snot bubbles pouring out of your nose, I want tears of joy and repentance, I want a life altering experience, not some stupid church ceremony where your grandparents are in the back filming it all an uploading it to their Facebook account so the relatives in Flagstaff can see little Jimmy’s first communion.
It is between you and God. It always has been. It always will be. God does not change. God does not evolve. His commandments don’t improve. They don’t need to. They were created as perfect, and they will remain as such forever.
What is Love?
John tell us plainly in verse 6: “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.”
What does it mean to love?
To obey God.
What does it mean to love each other?
To obey God.
What does it mean to love your enemies?
To obey God.
The final statement that John makes is quite interesting: “As you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.”
That sounds strangely familiar, doesn’t it.
Sound like John is talking about remaining in God’s will.
What word am I fishing for?
Abiding means to remain in what was revealed as truth from the beginning of your walk with God.
Close:
So let me return to our opening question: what are you known for? If I am being honest with myself I think I’m known for my seriousness and my humor. I think I’m known for both my wisdom and my silliness. I think I’m known for both my toughness and my empathy.
But above all of these, I want to be known, I ought to be known, by my love. This is hard for me. Neither loving God, nor loving others is something that comes naturally to my flesh. Remember: Justification is by faith. Sanctification (becoming more Christ like) is by work.
And I admit, I have to work at love. But I do find a great deal of truth in John’s words. As I remain, as I abide in God’s will, it is easier to love God, to love all of you, and to even love those I’d call enemies.
Let’s pray.