Love Changes Everything
Opening Prayer
Reflect on the love that others have lavished on you and give God your sincere thanks for it now.
Read 3 John 1:1-14
[1] The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. [2] Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. [3] It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. [4] I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. [5] Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. [6] They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. [7] It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. [8] We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. [9] I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. [10] So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. [11] Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. [12] Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone-and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. [13] I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. [14] I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What commendations and warnings does John give here?Unlike his first and second letters, John’s third mini-missive is to an individual. Gaius is evidently a church leader; v. 4 suggests he may have been converted through John. Gaius is faced with a choice of role models. First there is Diotrephes who is self-serving, manipulative, inhospitable and a gossip (9,10); then there is Demetrius who is highly commended by John as well as by others (12). Fortunately, Gaius is more like Demetrius and has been especially supportive of those involved in the church’s outreach (3-7). Gaius is praised for his continued faithfulness to the truth. What this truth might be is not spelled out here, but we are safe to assume it is the same truth as discussed in 1 and 2 John, namely the truth that is found in Jesus, God’s Son revealed in human flesh, and with its focus on his saving work. John, however, makes it clear that adherence to the truth does not merely consist of head knowledge or lip service but must, if it is genuine, show itself in a changed life and practical action.
Apply
Recall a Christian leader, past or present, who has been an inspiration to you. Thank God for their example.
Closing prayer
Lord, You have given me some good role models of faith. May I be such a role model for others.
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