March 4 Daily Discovery
March 4 Daily Discovery - Read 3 John Chapter 1
This passage below is from the King James Version (ekjv.org).
Remarks from the Berean Fellowship follow the passage below.
[1] The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
[2] Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
[3] For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
[4] I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
[5] Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
[6] Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
[7] Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
[8] We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
[9] I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
[10] Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
[11] Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
[12] Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
[13] I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
[14] But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
Fellowhelpers to the Truth
The pattern for the growth and development of churches across the world from the very beginning was for the apostles and other believers to go everywhere preaching word. When churches were established in towns, the believers would provide assistance to other servants of God that we're traveling through the town. They would provide anything that they could for them: a place to stay, food to eat, other provisions as were needed and resources were available to match, as well as money to help them continue to move and to preach the gospel.
This is how the gospel truth would continue to grow!
Matt. 28:18-20
[18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
[20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Acts 15:1-3
[1] And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
[2] When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
[3] And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
His Greatest Wish
This brief letter is written to a man named Gaius. He was a loving christian and a faithful servant of God. John commends him for the prosperity of his soul and tells him that he wishes that he would be prosperous and in good health just like his soul was prospering.
We should want such blessings upon everyone with whom we have to do, and in that order: first the health of their spiritual condition and then followed by prosperity and health physically.
His Greatest Joy
A resounding theme in John's letters identifies his love for the Truth. His greatest joy was to either observe or to read reports of those to whom he had ministered that were walking in truth.
His Opponent
From the earliest days of the church, there were problems that manifested themselves in the local assemblies. Here we have a confirmation that the people of the apostolic era were very much like people today. John names a man called Diatrophes that was problematic in the church.
He was a big mouth, bad-mouthing John and the other leaders of the church as well. He evidently had somehow come to a place of prominence, perhaps an elder or even a bishop (the head pastor) in the church.
He would not receive the brethren and he would forbid others to receive them and help them, as well going as far as to cast them out of the church. I can't remember where I first heard it but it is so true: "The church is damaged far more by termites within then it is by woodpeckers without." Diatrophes was such a proud termite, refusing to submit to the apostolic authority and to jesus in loving the brethren.
His Recomendation
Afterwards he names another person called Demetrius, who he identifies as a fellowhelper to the truth.
May we truly become and be known as fellow helpers to the truth!
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