Daily Devotional

-December 26, 2020-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

-Faithfully Doing Good To the Brethren And To Strangers-

“Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church.”

(3 John 1:5-6).

The Apostle John wrote the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation. After the Apostle Paul’s thirteen books, he wrote the most second most books in the NT, five. He was known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” He reclined on Jesus’ bosom, and was always mentioned along with Peter, and his brother James as the closest followers of Christ. He had a great love for Jesus and for all the saints.

In all his writings, he addressed the believers as beloved. The theme of God’s love permeates all his writings. Here in 3 John, he addresses his epistle to a brother named Gaius, whom he calls beloved Gaius, whom he loved in the truth. We know little about him nor do we know if he is the same Gaius that Paul speaks about.

Herbert Lockyer, in his book, “All the Men of the Bible,” writes, “Gaius means, ‘I am Glad, and is a common Roman name shared by four men, and some writers find it hard to differentiate between them: a companion of Paul and native of Macedonia who was seized in the riot at Ephesus (Acts 19:29); a man of Derbe in Lycaonia, likewise a companion of Paul, and is sometimes called Gaius of Corinth (Acts 20:4); the Corinthian converted and baptized by Paul, who hosted Paul while he was in Corinth; and the godly man to whom John addressed his third epistle that we have before us today.

John commended Gaius for his faithfulness in doing good toward the brethren in the church as well as to strangers. He acknowledged how they bore witness before the church. John rejoiced to hear of how Gaius walked in the truth. He had such a wonderful testimony for Christ.

As believers, we too must have a good testimony before the saved and the unsaved, between those we know and love much in the church and those who are strangers to us. In Galatians 6:9-10, Paul wrote, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Anything we do for others in Jesus’ name and for His sake, is seen by the Lord and we will be rewarded for it at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Hebrews 13:1-3 says, “Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Remember the prisoners as if chained with them — since you yourselves are in the body also.”

A man of God is a man of love, generosity, and kindness. Gaius was such a man. May the Lord help us to follow his example by showing love and doing good faithfully to the saints, whether they are friends or strangers. Leviticus 19:33-34 says, “And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

Have a blessed day faithfully serving the Lord and His people, going good and showing love to all. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean