Passing It On
3 John
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."
(3 JOHN 4)
It's been 43 years since the group "Gospel Force" developed in our church. The 60s were years of Cultural Revolution in our society, and yes, also within the church. The youth wanted a contemporary music group, and so the "Gospel Force," of which I became a part, was born. Most of the adults in the church family accepted us, and the group grew to more than 40 young people singing for Jesus and sharing our faith. A few months ago we had a reunion, and the words of our verse today brought a fresh reality to my wife Linda and me. From the challenging days of youth to now, married with children and a few grandchildren, these "kids" continue "walking in the truth." What joy that brings as we think of our years serving Jesus together!
John shares his own personal affection and delight as he hears about the lives of his spiritual children in faith. They are people of integrity and endurance. Remember, we often see Christ in others before we see Jesus Himself. And that opens our hearts and drives us to Him.
INSIGHT
NO ONE FOLLOWS THE LORD WITHOUT SOMEONE WATCHING. THE WATCHERS WILL OFTEN STEP IN AND FOLLOW HIM, TOO.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
2 Chronicles 19-20
Psalm 17
Matthew 24
3 John 1
New Living Translation (NLT)
Greetings
1 This letter is from John, the elder.[a]
I am writing to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth.
2 Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. 3 Some of the traveling teachers[b] recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. 4 I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.
Caring for the Lord’s Workers
5 Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. 7 For they are traveling for the Lord,[c] and they accept nothing from people who are not believers.[d] 8 So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth.
9 I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. 10 When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church.
11 Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.[e]
12 Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself. We ourselves can say the same for him, and you know we speak the truth.
Conclusion
13 I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to write it with pen and ink. 14 For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face.
15 [f]Peace be with you.
Your friends here send you their greetings. Please give my personal greetings to each of our friends there.
Footnotes:
a. 3 John 1:1 Greek From the elder.
b. 3 John 1:3 Greek the brothers; also in verses 5 and 10.
c. 3 John 1:7 Greek They went out on behalf of the Name.
d. 3 John 1:7 Greek from Gentiles.
e. 3 John 1:11 Greek they have not seen God.
f. 3 John 1:15 Some English translations combine verses 14 and 15 into verse 14.
JESUS IN THE PSALMS [PART 3]
Have you ever seen Jesus in the Psalms? He's there if you know where to look. Today Charles Morris opens up God's Word and takes a look at Psalm 22 ... the "Psalm of the Cross."
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