I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are living by the truth. Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the believers. You are faithful even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please help them by sending them on their way in a manner that honors God. They started on their journey to serve Jesus Christ. They didn’t receive any help from those who aren’t believers. So we should welcome people like them. We should work together with them for the truth.(3 John 1:4-8)
It brings great joy to those who have discipled us for them to see us living in obedience to the Word of God. Nothing pleases a teacher more than to see a student successfully living out what he or she has learned. It is so true today!
John praises gaius and others for their outpouring of love and obedience to the Truth. he especially praises them for supporting the work of the church . . . even the travelling preachers and missionaries of their day. While some throught it not right to share their possessions with the evangelists and others travelling around the country with the Gospel truths, John makes it clear that when we do, we share in their work and the global work of God through them.
These words encourage me as a missionary, yet it also presents a challenge. God approves our work and calling. Many support our labor. Yet many do not. In fact, some question our decision to leave good paying jobs to serve the Lord full-time in ministry. Even mature and faithful believers do not believe it is their job or God's instructionto support mission work. Many believe we should work to support our own ministry (literally working other jobs to support the work God called us to do). Paul faced the same challenges but did not give up the battle.
We must simply thank God for the support e gives and pray for other to have a desire to work together with them (us) for the truth. (3 John 1:8)
We will not quit. God is able!
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