-
Christian Devotional – August 25, 2014
Read 3 John VERSE: 3 John 11–Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. TRUTH: Sometimes we try to make things so complicated, yet following Christ is really this easy. We are to imitate what is good and through Him working and moving in our lives, we will do what is good and what is of God. Who or what are we trying to be like today? God is to be our example for how to respond in every situation. RESPONSE: Father, You are good and everything…
-
Christian Devotional – August 24, 2014
Read 3 John VERSE: 3 John 10–So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. No satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. TRUTH: John goes into more detail about the situation he brought up in the previous verse. Diotrophes is spreading lies, refusing hospitality, and then throwing out of the church those who are being hospitable. What is John going to do? He plans to confront Diotrophes and call out what he is doing wrong. There are sins and evil in…
-
Christian Devotional – August 23, 2014
Read 3 John VERSE: 3 John 9–I wrote to the church, but Diotrophes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. TRUTH: It’s hard to imagine a church leader like John not being welcome in the church, yet that is exactly what he writes here. Instead, a prideful and arrogant man refused to welcome him. You see, when someone loves to be first, they will turn away anyone who might threaten their number 1 position. Do we think more highly of ourselves than we should? That pride can blind us to people and circumstances around us. Do we love to be first? If so, we will always turn away…
-
Christian Devotional – August 22, 2014
Read 3 John VERSE: 3 John 8–We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. TRUTH: “Show hospitality,” “work together,” and “for the truth” are all phrases that really stand out in this verse. Do we actually act out and demonstrate the kindness of hospitality? Do we foster and encourage Christians to work together and when we work together is it for the purpose of sharing the truth of Jesus Christ? These are great questions that we can ask about everything that we do. As we examine our life today? What are the answers? RESPONSE: Father, give me a spirit of…
-
Christian Devotional – August 21, 2014
Read 3 John VERSE: 3 John 7–It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. TRUTH: When we are going about the work that God has provided for us to do, those who didn’t believe in God will not understand and not be of help. We shouldn’t expect them to be. When we are following God, we should expect to receive help from God. Others who believe in God and are following God will also be able to help us, but unless the person has that understanding of why we are going about doing the work of God in the first…
-
Christian Devotional – August 20, 2014
Read 3 John VERSE: 3 John 6–They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. TRUTH: Do we show excellent hospitality skills? In the culture when this was written, hospitality was extremely important, but here John gives a new definition of true hospitality: “send them on their way in a manner that honors God.” When we meet people, when we work with people, or anytime we interact with people are we sending them on their way in a manner that honors God? RESPONSE: Father, keep me focused on this today so that every person I encounter today will fell…
-
Christian Devotional – August 19, 2014
Read 3 John VERSE: 3 John 5–Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. TRUTH: No matter where we are or what we are doing, we have a relationship with other Christians in the world. We are to pray for them and support them and lift them up even if we don’t know them personally. When they hurt, we hurt for we are all part of the body of Christ. Do we look for ways to be faithful and show our support for our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world? RESPONSE: Father, I am…
-
Christian Devotional – August 18, 2014
Read 3 John VERSE: 3 John 4–I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. TRUTH: It is unknown whether John had any biological children, yet he had scores of spiritual children. The people that he led to Christ and disciple to grow in Christ were all his children. Just like with biological children, other people would come up to John and say, “I saw this child of yours doing this.” When John had great reports about his children, he felt pride and joy in knowing they were pleasing go. Do we have spiritual children? If not, why not? If we do, are…
-
Christian Devotional – August 17, 2014
Read 3 John VERSE: 3 John 3–It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. TRUTH: What would another believer say about you if they were giving a report to this verse’s author, John? Would John be encouraged and joyful or disappointed and embarrassed? Others are always watching and the way we live our life is a testimony of what we believe. Do we daily walk in the path that would bring joy to another believer? Are we faithful to God’s truth each day through the seemingly mundane activities of life or are we…
-
Christian Devotional – August 16, 2014
Read 3 John VERSE: 3 John 2 – 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. TRUTH: Our spiritual health and our physical health are both important and need to be addressed in our lives. Are we taking care of ourselves physically? What about spiritually? If we are neglecting our spiritual life, then we will not know or be ready for the plans that God has for us. If we are neglecting our physical health, then we may know God’s plans for us, but not be able to do everything that God…