Dear Church Family,
You have probably heard the expression, “Good things come in small packages.” In the Bible there are several ‘small packages’ that get overlooked. These packages are books of the Bible that are short. In the Old Testament, the Minor Prophets, except for parts of Daniel and references to others that have prophesies fulfilled at Christmas or Palm Sunday, rarely get the study they deserve. If asked what Philemon, Jude or John’s epistles teach, most Christian will say they have no idea. I do not plan to do exhaustive studies of these books (I did preach through the Minor Prophets back in 2014), but will highlights some of the themes of the New Testament books that have just one chapter over the next couple of weeks.
3 John has only 14 verses. Each has a wonderful richness, so I will look at the whole book by breaking it into five sections. Johns packs so much into this letter that it deserves a deliberate look so we can soak up and apply these great truths. Even his closing words, as we will see, bring the book to a joyous close filled with hope.
John begins with words of affection to Gaius whom he deeply loves. Then he tells his friend the content of his prayers for him. Then adds these words, “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
First, he prayed that Gaius would be healthy and would prosper. It is commendable to pray for people to enjoy good health. It is also good to ask God to grant prosperity to His children. This could be financially, but without question it refers to the state of one’s soul and spiritual life. Here John could be thinking along the lines of what 2 Peter 3:18 instructs, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
John then tells of the joy he has as reports have come to him of how Gaius (and it is assumed other believers with him) remain faithful and continue to walk in the truth of the teachings of Jesus. John ends the section with words that every faithful pastor yearns to say. Indeed, I have no greater joy than to know that the members of this church are walking in the faith ‘once delivered to the saints.’
John gives us great insight in this part of a small package on how we can pray. Why not stop right now to pray this for yourself and for at least two other members of our church?
With great hope in His grace,
Pastor Gillikin