3 John 14 KJV  [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.” John is giving his benediction with the mindset that he will come to see the brethren soon. He would rather say some things face to face instead of putting them in a letter. In this modern world of technology there are things that are too personal and important to put in a text or an email. A phone call does not even seem sufficient. They bear more …

3 John 13 KJV [13] “I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:” Whenever I read this verse I’m curious about the phrase “many things”. John has written about many things in his epistles, but in this third and final epistle he tells us he has so much more to say. I would love to know what more was on the great apostle’s heart. What more did he have to write unto them? How much more detail or doctrine did he want to add? It definitely leaves us wondering, but it also …

3 John 12 KJV  [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.” The brother in our verse was responsible for carrying and delivering this epistle. He had a good report with all of the churches, and is endorsed by the apostle John. The Bible does not give us a lot of information about Demetrius, but it gives us enough to have great respect for him. This man is forever recorded in the pages of God’s Word as having a good report with …

3 John 11 KJV  [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.” Today’s verse causes us to reflect back on what we have read thus far in this epistle. Diotrephes had done evil. Gaius had done good. We know that Gaius is of God because he loved and walked in the truth. Diotrephes had no vision of God. He is standing against everything that God is standing for. He is against the preacher, the brethren and anyone who does …

3 John 10 KJV [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.” The apostle makes it clear that if he is able to come, then he will deal with Diotrephes. He also put it in writing and sent it with Gaius for all to hear,  in case he was unable to come. Either way John makes it clear that these types of members cannot rule in the …

3 John 9  KJV [9] “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.” John has several things to say in this verse. First, that he had written unto the church before, but his letter was intercepted or hindered by a certain member. He also reveals who that member was by calling his name out in the text. I believe this is what should happen anytime someone tries to hinder the man of God from doing the Lord’s work. They should immediately be called out so everyone will know of their …

3 John 8  KJV [8] “We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.” John says that we ought to contribute to men of God when they pass by our way, so that we can be fellow helpers in the ministry. I want you to see some reasons in this verse why it is so important to help the preacher.  First, because there are those who will not receive them. The command is given to receive the preacher, but there are many who will not obey the scriptures. There are people and churches who will …

3 John 7 KJV [7] “Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.” We could say many things about our topic in today’s devotional, but our verse gives us one thing in particular. The preachers who passed through the home of Gaius greatly enjoyed his fellowship and hospitality. He had refreshed them on their journey and encouraged them to keep traveling.  He witnessed firsthand what the life of a preacher is all about. It is a life of living by faith. Now, while this is true for all believers, we must keep in mind that …

3 John 6 KJV [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:” The name Gaius means “of the earth”. He was no doubt an ordinary man, with a heart to serve the Lord. His testimony can be clearly seen in our verse for today. The Bible says that the brethren had spoken highly of his charity before the church. He was known to be a down-to-earth kind of man. I think this is a testimony that every believer should have.  The family …

3 John 5 KJV [5] “Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;” John is still praising Gaius in our verse, but he turns his attention from his faithfulness in the book, to his faithfulness to the brethren. This servant had proven to be a faithful help and blessing to the men of God who would pass by. He knew some of these preachers on a personal level, such as the apostle John. Other preachers passing by were strangers to him, but he offered to them the same faithful spirit and service. They discovered two …