Daily Bread 2011 - 3 John
Daily Bread 2011 – 3 John
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.
What Does This Mean?
In this third letter of John, this time it is addressed to Gaius, someone who the author, the elder, knows well. It has many marks of a letter written in that time in history including: a greeting, personal affirmations and thanksgiving to the recipient. In this case, the elder is uplifting Gaius for welcoming some missionaries who were traveling in the Johannine community spreading the gospel. For the sake of the Name, these missionaries went out; and for the sake of the Name, Gaius welcomed them in.
Contrary to Gaius, another member of the church, Diotrophes, did not welcome anyone into his church. He even spread lies about what the Elder and other churches were doing. Contrary to the hospitality of Gaius, Diotrophes was more interested in his own tribe than the greater mission of Christ. What a stark contrast in the attitudes of these two churches and its leaders! For the Elder, the Gaius’ example brought him great joy to see they were living out the truth, whereas the former Diotrophes, needed to be confronted for his bad actions and attitudes.
What Does This Mean For Us?
It was Jesus who said, “When you welcome in the stranger, you welcome in me!” When you feed those who are homeless, or care for those imprisoned; you are really touching him. It is impossible for any one ministry, missions group, or church to reach the whole world with the Gospel. The only way it would be possible if all these groups worked together for the sake of God’s kingdom coming here on earth as it is in heaven.
It is all too easy in church organization to get so caught up in our individual ministries that we often forget to remember those ministering in other parts of the world. Practically speaking, every church should give a portion of its own offerings to other local and global efforts to spread the Gospel. This models that we are not all about just taking in for ourselves, but we give outside our four walls. As we connect with other missions, ministries and missionaries; we get a sense of what God is doing throughout the world. As we pray for others and support them financially and otherwise, we are fulfilling the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations (people groups!).
God help us to have a God sized vision for our ministries, welcoming the stranger and supporting other efforts to bring the Gospel to the whole world. We know we have been blessed to be a blessing to others and we will give an account of how we have handled all the gracious resources you have entrusted us with! Amen.
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.
What Does This Mean?
In this third letter of John, this time it is addressed to Gaius, someone who the author, the elder, knows well. It has many marks of a letter written in that time in history including: a greeting, personal affirmations and thanksgiving to the recipient. In this case, the elder is uplifting Gaius for welcoming some missionaries who were traveling in the Johannine community spreading the gospel. For the sake of the Name, these missionaries went out; and for the sake of the Name, Gaius welcomed them in.
Contrary to Gaius, another member of the church, Diotrophes, did not welcome anyone into his church. He even spread lies about what the Elder and other churches were doing. Contrary to the hospitality of Gaius, Diotrophes was more interested in his own tribe than the greater mission of Christ. What a stark contrast in the attitudes of these two churches and its leaders! For the Elder, the Gaius’ example brought him great joy to see they were living out the truth, whereas the former Diotrophes, needed to be confronted for his bad actions and attitudes.
What Does This Mean For Us?
It was Jesus who said, “When you welcome in the stranger, you welcome in me!” When you feed those who are homeless, or care for those imprisoned; you are really touching him. It is impossible for any one ministry, missions group, or church to reach the whole world with the Gospel. The only way it would be possible if all these groups worked together for the sake of God’s kingdom coming here on earth as it is in heaven.
It is all too easy in church organization to get so caught up in our individual ministries that we often forget to remember those ministering in other parts of the world. Practically speaking, every church should give a portion of its own offerings to other local and global efforts to spread the Gospel. This models that we are not all about just taking in for ourselves, but we give outside our four walls. As we connect with other missions, ministries and missionaries; we get a sense of what God is doing throughout the world. As we pray for others and support them financially and otherwise, we are fulfilling the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations (people groups!).
God help us to have a God sized vision for our ministries, welcoming the stranger and supporting other efforts to bring the Gospel to the whole world. We know we have been blessed to be a blessing to others and we will give an account of how we have handled all the gracious resources you have entrusted us with! Amen.
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