A Study Through the Letters of JohnSample

Day 10: Thankful for the Faithful

(Read 3 John)

The elder,

To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

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. 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. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 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.

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. 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.

I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 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.

Reflection on the passage:

It is incredibly helpful to take a moment to name those things that we are thankful for in our lives. Somewhere near the top of the list will likely be the names of friends or family members who have supported and loved us. If John were naming the people that he was thankful for, his dear friend Gaius would most certainly be on that list.

We don’t have a lot of specifics about Gaius, and because his name was a common Roman name, we can’t assume he is the same Gaius mentioned other places in the New Testament. We do know that Gaius showed faithfulness. John hears from his messengers that Gaius has stayed faithful to the truth. We can assume that as a member (and perhaps leader) in his church, Gaius has stood strong in the truth of the gospel of Christ. We also learn that Gaius is faithful in action. He shows hospitality to the brothers and sisters that John sent out on mission and helps them on their way, likely financially, as well as in spiritual support.

When we read of Diotrephes on the other hand, we see that there are oppositional forces in the church and understand all the more why John would have been grateful for Gaius’ presence there. Diotrephes opposes John by not welcoming the believers that John sent, stopping others from doing so, and spreading “malicious nonsense” about John and his messengers. The presence of a trusted friend in this congregation which has been negatively affected by Diotrephes’ divisive leadership, would have been invaluable to John.

May we like Gaius, be the kind of faithful presence in our departments, churches, communities, and families that brings joy. May we stand strong in the truth despite opposition and show hospitality to those doing Christ’s work.

Focus verse for prayerful reflection:

“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.” (3 John 1:3)

1. Who in your life brings you joy because of their faithfulness to Christ?

2. Where are you bringing joy to others by standing strong in what is right despite challenging circumstances?

3. Take some time to talk with Jesus about this and thank Him for the people He has brought into your life.

For further reading:

Read 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 for more on gratitude and faithfulness.

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