Gaius was a much appreciated brother in Christ. He was a very godly man who loved the Lord Jesus and loved the saints. He was kind and hospitable to other Christian teachers who traveled and visited the assembly where he attended. John desired he would have good health to match his godly life. How healthy would you and I be if our body’s health matched our godliness? John was happy that Gaius and many others in the assembly walked according to the truth they had learned.
Some of the traveling teachers needed some financial support so they could travel and preach. These preachers would not take any money from the unbelievers to support their traveling and preaching. They visited other assemblies in faith that the Lord Jesus would supply their needs as they visited the saints. Gaius was faithful to care for these preachers of the gospel. John says we should all be fellow-helpers to preachers. If you support a preacher, you will also receive a preacher’s reward. See Matthew 10:4141He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. (Matthew 10:41).
Diotrephes wanted to be the most important person in the church and he would not receive other preachers in the church. He chased them away. John was disappointed about this. He tells the faithful ones in the assembly not to follow the evil but to follow the good.
John appreciated truth in knowledge and truth in action. We don’t just talk about truth, but we must also live the truth. Another brother in this assembly was Demetrius. The Christians had good things to say about him. He both knew truth and lived the truth.
1. What do the children walk in that gives great joy to John? __________ 3 John ___
2. John encouraged Gaius that he would do well if he sent traveling Christian preachers on their journey in what way? __________ 3 John ___
3. Who did not receive visitors because he loved to have the first place of preeminence in the church? __________ 3 John ___
4. We should not follow that which is evil. What should we follow? __________ 3 John ___
5. Who had a good report from all men? __________ 3 John ___