Good day dear friends.
We continue looking at scriptural references to faithfulness. Here is today's study guide:
Thursday: Let us read 3 John 1-15. Read this as if it were a letter to you. How you respond to this letter? Why not sit down and write a letter back to John answering his directives?
Here is that passage in NSRV:
1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. 3 I was overjoyed when some of the friends arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, namely how you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends, even though they are strangers to you; 6 they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God; 7 for they began their journey for the sake of Christ, accepting no support from non-believers. 8 Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become co-workers with the truth. 9 I have written something to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with those charges, he refuses to welcome the friends, and even prevents those who want to do so and expels them from the church. 11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Everyone has testified favorably about Demetrius, and so has the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true. 13 I have much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink; 14 instead I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face. 15 Peace to you. The friends send you their greetings. Greet the friends there, each by name.
The author here defines faithfulness as "walking in the truth," which means the writer has heard reports of the person to whom he's writing, Gaius, is walking with Christ. The reports heard about this gentleman is that he practices what he's heard about being a follower of Christ even in the midst of a person from his church who does not like to practice hospitality to visiting Christians and even tried to prevent others from the fellowship from doing the same.
Faithfulness is knowing what is right and then doing it. Even if people around you contradict or even try to stop you. Faithfulness is also as he says later in verse 11, "imitating what is good."
If this letter had been addressed to you, how would you respond? Is it said of you that you are walking in the truth and imitating what is good? Or are you among those who not only don't walk in truth but try to prevent those who do?
Use today's text to help you reflect on your faithfulness or lack thereof, and make today a day of decision for truly doing what Christ would have you do as His disciple.
PRAYER; Come Holy God, to my life and touch me. Let me be honest about what I have and have not done. Forgive me for those times of unfaithfulness. Let me begin today anew in walking in the truth and seeking to imitate that which is right. I pray in Christ's name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
