Pass it On
3 John 1-14
"We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth."
(3 John 8)
Thinking back over my life, I realize that my pastors, teachers, seminary professors, and colleagues in ministry have all challenged me to "reach out" to others. I have carried that burden through years of ministry, taking seriously that I am part of the worldwide Church, committed to people in need of comfort and sustaining faith.
The New Testament urges us to be hospitable to others. The early Church was remarkable in its ability to cross the barriers of culture, language, economics, profession, race and gender. Often believers would reach out even to those causing them to suffer.
We're part of a multicultural Church, too - people of many colors, ages, languages, customs, and preferences - all worshiping the same Lord. It is our God-given stewardship to pass on the news of the Gospel. As we tell the story of Jesus' love, forgiveness and restoration, oh, that our witness would cause those around us to say, "We want to hear you again on this subject" (Acts 17:32). Be faithful in passing it on!
INSIGHT
We are given a sacred responsibility to openly embrace those people God puts in our path.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Job 33-34
Psalm 58
Luke 21
3 John 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,[a] 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.
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