3 John 1:4
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

Parents usually have great joy in watching their children grow up. I’m not a parent myself but I’ve shared in the joy my friends have had with their children. How wonderful it is to see that little baby take his first steps, to see him grin as he realizes he discovered a new form of locomotion.

The apostle John knew the joy of seeing a baby take his first steps. Like me, he may not have had any biological children. But John had many people he raised up in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. He rejoiced when people he ministered to took their first steps in the Lord. And his greatest joy was hearing that they continued to walk in the Lord.

Indeed, that should be the greatest joy we have in regard to our children, no matter whether they are biological or spiritual children. Our hearts should cry out in praise of God when our children live the truth.

It’s not enough that they know the truth. If they only knew the truth, there would not be much cause for rejoicing. But if they know and live the truth, rejoicing should spring from our hearts.

If we want our children to walk in truth, the best thing we can do for them is to walk in truth ourselves. We need to live our lives in such a way that they will see the importance of following after Jesus.

A friend of mine in his eighties told me a story about a particular Sunday morning when he and his little boy were reading the newspaper. My friend’s wife interrupted their son’s comic reading and told him they were going to church. The little boy answered, “Daddy isn’t going to church. Why should I go to church?”

Why, indeed. If the parents are not walking in truth, why should we expect the children to walk in truth?

Don’t just preach to your children. Teach them by example.