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"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and truth".
He speaks scathingly of the boast of light that is accompanied by hatred of the
brethren (1 John 2:9). He tells his readers that the doing of righteousness is the finest
evidence that they are born of Him (1 John 2:29). He declares that all the boasted
possession of the love of God is nullified by lack of love (1 John 3:17; 4:20). He had
written telling them of the many antichrists and of the domination of the lie. In his second
epistle he said: "I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth" (2 John
4), and, as we have seen, in his third epistle he says that he has no greater joy than to hear
that his children walk in truth.
Some of us are apt t look around with the eyes of Elijah and say: "I only am left, and
they seek my life". The Apostle tells us to consider others better than ourselves, and if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, to reckon, or impute, these things. If we do
not rejoice greatly whenever we hear of the Lord's children putting into practice the
doctrine they have learned, we have missed a real cause of joy, and allowed on part of
our spiritual life to remain undeveloped. True joy is unselfish, and finds its cause in the
blessing of others.
"Count it all joy".
We found that John has no greater joy than to hear that his children walked in truth.
What should we say we counted "all joy" if we were asked? James writing to the
dispersion said:
"My brethren, count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations" (Jas 1:2).
This is certainly not a natural point of view. Most of us would count it all joy if we
had escaped divers temptations. James, however, makes it clear that he is no misanthrope,
no man who is only happy when he is miserable. He proceeds to explain:
"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect
work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Blessed is the man that endureth
temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised
to them that love Him" (Jas 1:3, 4:12).
He can count it all joy and be called blessed, not because of the temptations
themselves, but because of their issue.
In their meaning in modern usage, the words "temptation" and "tempt" are somewhat
limited, but the true meaning, that of making trial, is still found in the word "attempt",
into which none dream of reading any idea of temptation. Temptation, or trial, can then
be contemplated with joy by reason of its effects. It works patience, it leads to full
maturity, it may at last lead to a crown. Much in the same spirit are the words of Paul in
Romans 5:3,4: "We glory in tribulation", he said, not for tribulation's own sake, but
because we know that "tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and
experience hope". Peter also conveys much the same thought when he says: