260 in 2012 DEVOS - Day 237 - 3 John: No Greater Joy!

Encouragement – there is no greater motivator of people! You and I love to receive it and love to see it! In this short letter, John dishes it out to Gaius! Next to 2 John, this is the next smallest letter in the Bible. Addressed to Gaius, it is about the walking in truth, the need for showing hospitality to traveling preachers & believers and to warn against church “dictators.” John first commends Gaius’ character: “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.” Imagine how you’d feel if next Sunday your pastor said these things about you!~ John was majorly encouraging Gaius! He goes on to commend his conduct: “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… 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.” Gaius was being hospitable to fellow believers he didn’t even know. Then, there was Diotrephes. His conduct showed he was selfish (“loves to be first”), slanderous (”spreading malicious nonsense about us”) and controlling (”he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.”) John’s advice: “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.” In other words – don’t be that guy! SO WHAT?! *There truly is no greater joy than to know my children are walking in the truth! Grades, sports and activities aside, to know that Drew & Jessica know Jesus and want to make Him known, that ROCKS MY WORLD! And for the honor to have spiritual “kids” all over the world who have been in our student ministry and are now pastors, youth workers, soldiers, missionaries, doctors, musicians, moms, etc… and still know Jesus and are making Him known – that too Rocks! You Go God! *Hospitality can be messy. Rooms get dirty, things get broken, laundry machines wear out and there is constant cooking & cleaning. But God wants us to open up the homes He gave us for Him! Over the years, the Freunds have had many items broken, numerous dents, carpet stains, holes in walls, etc… that tell stories of the students who made them – LOL! Now I’m not saying they were all enjoyable at the time - Jean has put up with and cleaned up A LOT! But how boring would it be after 10 years to say “wow, hasn’t this carpet held up well” because nobody’s been there! Forget that, lets wear out our homes because we’ve constantly opened them up to minister for Jesus! And by the way, if you do, those people will keep coming by later in life as well because they know you love and care for them and it may lead them to Jesus!~ So, be Hospitable, be messy for Jesus!