via TJC
”Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.“ 3 John 1:11 NLT
I have often learned as much from my mistakes and the mistakes of others as I have from doing the right thing. As I raise 5 children, we speak often about Righteousness which is "simply" making "right" choices. (I say simply a little tongue in cheek).
Sometimes its difficult to know what the "right" choice, is to do "good" in today's culture. The question I encourage my children to ask when challenged with how to act, when there's doubt, is simply this, what action or choice best honors and blesses God? How can I act in this situation and be a reflection of Jesus? And am I doing the right thing when no one is looking, because God sees all?
We can only answer these questions when we know the word and spend time reading and meditating on the Bible. The Bible commands us to be discerning and use righteous judgment. Are we measuring the fruits of others and ourselves by a Biblically based standard? Have we removed the plank in our own eye to see clearly in helping and encouraging others. Do we measure our brothers and sisters in Christ by our standard? We ought not do that. We must hold ourselves in the body of Christ to the holiest standard while not expecting the lost to honor a teaching and standard they haven't learned. We must pray for the lost and leave room in our interactions with the lost, in-order-for Grace to meet people where they are. Its through the power of the Holy Spirit, they will turn from sin. And then we can encourage them on a sinless path (remember this major goal - to sin less in life).
3 John is written to those who claim to be in the body of Christ but believe false teachings and are no longer honoring the teachings from the Apostles. It instructs that we must be discerning and police our own, separating the wheat from the chaff, the sheep from the goats. We must also not be deceived; sin is evil, affirming Sin is evil. Not taking a stand for the truth and righteousness is evil. Evil will disguise itself as compassion, will challenge your authority to judge and discern, but don't be misled, we are charged to carry the banner of the Lord everywhere we go in all that we do.
Daily Battle Order:
Ask your family, what challenges they are dealing with or have recently gone through. Share with them an example where you struggled. Ask each other do they think that they have made the right choice. Your job as the leader is to help your family view issues through the lens of scripture. Have the tough conversations as together you discern what is good and righteous versus what is sinful and evil. Encourage each other to make the right choices using God's standard. .
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