The Truth is Always more than Telling

S - 3 John 2-4 (NLT): "Dear friend, I am praying that all is well with you and that your body is as healthy as I know your soul is. Some of the brothers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living in the truth. I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children live in the truth."

O - Is there a difference between living in the truth and knowing it? Certainly to live in it one must know it but does knowing it always equate to living in it? The Greek verb (the same in both verses) is peripatevw: to tread all around, that is, walk at large (especially as proof of ability); figuratively to live, deport oneself, follow (as a companion or votary): - go, be occupied with, walk (about). This compound word expresses a word picture of something thoroughly trampled, completely traversed, fully occupying one's life. The truth is not something we merely handle, it must handle us.  The truth is not merely information, it is a person.  The truth is Jesus and there is a marked difference between intellectual recognition and a daily and full expression of living in him.  There is no greater joy for the "hearer" and those being heard about than to be living in the truth.

A - Today (and every day) my primary focus is Jesus … to think, act, talk and love like him; to completely traverse and to be completely immersed in him … for him to handle me and my entire day.  He is life, vibrant, refreshing, irrepressible and unmistakable life.  There is no greater joy because he is the greatest joy.  Living in the truth will not mean never making a mistake.  It does mean never failing to recognize and turn into Jesus who is the truth.

P - Lord who is life and truth and joy,

My day is varied in meetings, focus, importance (from my perspective) and expectations.  My life is varied by my human nature and all the humans around me.  You are not only ever present around me but in me and I want to be ever present with you/ to you.  Lord, let me be a life giving fountain today, a garden which any and all can receive nourishment from without cost and without apprehension.   Jesus, I don't just want to handle the facts about you and the truth which comes from/in you but I desperately want to be handled by you:).  Lead me, shape me, enable me to bring you joy and glory in all circumstances and expressions which today will hold.  I welcome you and your will and I ask for (agree with) new wineskins, mulberry trees in the ocean and for that which is too wonderful for me.

In them,

Steve