1-25-21 THOUGHTS

Our passage this morning is very powerful.   There is tenderness in an older man for those he has labored with to bring them to Christ.  He loves them because of what they have become and he gains great JOY in their behavior in Christ.  His prayer for them is for good health in the same way their SOULS ARE ALREADY HEALTHY!   Their faithful behavior seems to be the helping of some who have given their lives to preaching THE NAME!  John encourages them to send these on their way in “a manner worthy of God”.  Finally, he uses a very New Testament term to describe the work...  “That we may be FELLOW WORKERS with THE TRUTH.”  

3John 1:1-8    The elder [John] to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 2  Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3  For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. 4  I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. 5  Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers;  6  and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7  For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8  Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.
A similar passage is found in 2Cor 8:1-7  
    Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2  that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. 3  For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, 4  begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, 5  and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 6  So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. 7  But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.
Here we are in our day and time learning to be fellow workers in the truth.  May we FIRST GIVE OURSELVES TO THE LORD?  FIRST THINGS FIRST!

My Prayer:
Oh God of heaven and earth, help us to be fellow workers in bringing your truth to this world.  Teach us each to give ourselves to you.  Help us consider each other to encourage ourselves toward love and good works.  Help us to be a praying people.  We pray for a revival for the blood purchased church of Christ.  Thank you for Jesus who saves us.
We ever pray in his name            Amen