2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
The little letter, which is 3 JN, is written by our Elder is directed to a church leader, Gaius, who is praised for his work. It also contains a warning against a man named Diotrephes and praise for another one, Demetrius. While 3 JN is short, it helps us to better understand the conditions in the early church through the personalities mentioned and the lessons their circumstances teach. We are all aware that there was opposition to the early church from forces outside of it. However, this letter helps us to understand that there were sometimes, as in the case of Diotrephes, sources of turmoil within the church as well. 3 JN: 1-4 is the salutation. “From the Elder-To my dear Gaius, whom I truly love. My dear friend, I pray that everything may go well with you and that you may be in good health-as I know you are well in spirit. I was so happy when some Christian brothers arrived and told me how faithful you are to the truth-just as you always live in the truth. Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children live in the truth.”
We learn quite a lot about Gaius from these words and other places in the NT where he is mentioned. We know that he has earned the Elder’s respect and love, that he has remained faithful to the truth in spite of being exposed to the same temptation to give in to the lies of Gnosticism as others in the church, and that he is apparently not in the best of physical health, although he is very spiritually healthy. Gaius is mentioned in two other places in the Scriptures which sheds light on this man’s personality and service to God. AC 20: 4 tells us that he was known to be a follower of Paul and was from Derbe, which is in southern Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) near Lystra and Iconium. After Paul stayed in Achaia (modern day Greece) where he stayed for three months and was getting ready to go to Syria, he discovered that the Jews were plotting against him. Thus, he decided to go back through Macedonia (north of modern day Greece, where he had already been). AC 20: 4 tells us that Gaius was in the group of people who went with Paul.
We must remember that in the early days of the church, there were no churches as we know them today. Believers met in the homes of others who were led by the Lord to be their hosts. Gaius was a man of hospitality, and we learn about this in RO 16: 23. “My [Paul’s] host Gaius, in whose house the church meets, sends you his greetings…” I know from being raised in the Jewish faith (as Gaius was) that hospitality is an important issue to Judaism. The Jewish teaching to be a good host to strangers is seen in HE 13: 2, “Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did that and welcomed angels without knowing it.” This is direct reference to GN 18: 1-10, the story of how Abraham welcomed three strangers, one of whom prophesied that he and Sarah would have a son, in spite of their advanced years. I hope you will read that story. The son was the “child of the promise,” Isaac, who was born nine months later. It also refers to GN 19:1-3, the story of the strangers who Lot made welcome in his home in Sodom, an act that led to his being rescued from that evil city before it’s destruction by God. These strangers were theophanies, visible manifestations of God and His angels, but neither Abraham, nor Lot realized that.
Paul, who was also raised in Judaism, certainly held to the teaching of being a good host. We see this in RO 12: 13, “Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your home to strangers.” Although Titus was not raised as a Jew, he certainly shared this respect for hospitality when he wrote describing the traits an elder in the church should have in Titus 1: 8. “He must be hospitable and love what is good. He must be self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.” What we learn of Gaius would certainly qualify him to be an elder in the church. Peter also shared this respect for hospitality. He reveals that in 1 PET 4: 9, “Open your homes to each other without complaining.”
From where the Elder was looking, Gaius had a winning combination, both being a good host and living in the truth. Gaius, like Peter, John, and Paul was willing to endure in his faith and to take action on his beliefs. We may ask: What is the value to us today of learning about a man like Gaius? Let me answer that question with a personal experience that has led to a great blessing in my life. Many of you know that I believe it was an act of Godly intervention when I was channel surfing and found a little half-hour TV program, a Bible study called “Through The Bible” with Les Feldick. After getting hooked on Les’ teaching and one day being unable to find it at the usual time, I called the 800 number I had seen on his program. To my surprise, that number rang the phone in Les’ kitchen at his ranch in Kinta, OK, instead of that of a secretary in a fancy ministry office like I had expected. Les, himself, answered that call, a call that led to me inviting him and his wife, Iris, to come stay with me whenever he came to our area. In my wildest dreams, I never thought they would ever take me up on that invitation, nor had I been in the habit of inviting strangers to my home very often. Many of you know that Les did take me up on my invitation several times, giving rise to a most wonderful friendship between the Feldicks and us, one that had certainly been a blessing to both Peter and me. This very humble man has been given a great gift to convey the Scriptures accurately in a way anyone can understand. He shares the same joy in God’s word that I have and has dedicated his life to it. I hope some day that Peter and I can take the Feldicks up on their invitation to us to visit with them at their ranch. We may not understand at the time that God is using a situation such as this to further the spread of the Gospel or to carry out some larger part of His will. That is why we must be willing to allow God to prompt us to follow commands we don't completely understand. Gaius was certainly a man who would do this. We can learn from his example.
PRAYER: O Lord, in Your infinite wisdom, You prompt some people we read about in the Bible to take actions that set an example for us of how to be faithful. When we take advantage of the lessons contained in their experiences, we are blessed by that. When we obey You, we show You the love You so richly deserve. To the extent that we are willing to trust You and follow Your commands, You are able to see the condition of our heart-attitude and the willingness we have to take action on our beliefs. Sometimes that action is not always easy or conveniently timed, but it is essential to furthering our sanctification. By allowing us to see the warmth of greetings like the ones Paul and John wrote to specific people in church, we are exposed to what the love of Christ actually is. The artificial barriers that humans living in the flesh erect between themselves are broken down, freeing You to use us in doing Your work. When we do Your work, we experience a kind of joy and peace that can only come from You. We offer You our thanks, praise, worship, adoration, and utmost reverence. In Christ’s name, amen.
Tomorrow, we will look at more of what is revealed about the Godly Gaius and, if there is space, at some of the people with whom he was working. Meditate on the reality of God’s love in your lives, Dear Ones. When you recognize it, you will feel even more blessed than you ever imagined. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace, Peace, and Love in Christ Be With You,
Lynn