From: December 7, 2023
“For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth” (3 John 1:7-8 NLT).
The apostle John was one of the last living apostles at the time he wrote this letter to his friend, Gaius. John was probably the youngest of Christ’s Twelve, but now he calls himself “the elder” in his opening address. His sweet demeanor remains, but he has little time for beating around the bush. So he commends Gaius for his faithfulness to support traveling teachers who pass through their city. But he rebukes and corrects those who deny such missionaries their support. He further teaches all believers that they should support missionaries, for in this way, they can be “partners” with the them.
The Greek word that John used for “partner” was, “synergos,” which literally means “coworker.” For supporting a gospel missionary financially and prayerfully makes one more than a donor. It makes one a partner, a coworker for the sake of the gospel.
Those who would be a gospel partner must listen to the Lord’s calling. For some may be called at times to go and serve, while others may be called to stay, pray, and give. Both are coworkers for the truth, which is the gospel.
Let’s remember this instruction from old John during this Christmas season. It’s the perfect time to give sacrificially to Jesus by giving to missions.
PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to remember this instruction to support missions and be partners for the gospel. We want to be marked by Your love and generosity. Empower us to give sacrificially, so that we are gospel partners with You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: December 7, 2022
ON SOWING AND STARTING OVER AGAIN
Psalm 126 described the mixture of tears and joy that the Jewish exiles experienced upon their return to Jerusalem. They were happy to return, but they had lost everything. Yet, they had seed and they once again had fields and they had the physical strength and knowledge to plant. So they planted in tears, but would soon sing at the harvest.
Those who are obedient to sow and plant, even while shedding tears of hardship, will one day rejoice in the day of harvest. But those who sow nothing, reap nothing. They remain in their grief.
As the apostle Paul wrote, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Gal. 6:9). Don’t dig up in doubt what you planted by faith. Keep sowing!
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are thankful that You have given us this promise of sowing and reaping. Strengthen us to go out to sow even when we are weak and weeping. For we have faith that Your Word will not return void. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: December 7, 2016
There is an answer for the nation that is under God’s judgment: Return to the Lord and desire to know Him. God is faithful. If we repent and desire to know Him, He will restore us and reveal Himself to us, just as surely as the coming dawn. This is the antidote for the nation that has lost the “knowledge of God” (Hos.4:1). Let us pursue knowing our God and let us teach the nations about Him.
From: December 7, 2015
In John’s third letter, he wrote commending Gaius for his care of the traveling Bible teachers that had visited his church. But John warned Gaius about the bad example of Diotrephes (Greek for “nurtured by Jupiter”) who apparently held some sort of leadership role in the local church and had denied help to the traveling teachers. Among the character flaws that John ascribed to Diotrephes was that he “loves to have the preeminence.” In other words, he was “fond of being first.” He was ambitious and power hungry, unwilling to submit to the apostle John. This is not the paradigm for servant leadership that Jesus taught. He taught that servant leaders were not to lord it over others as the Gentile rulers did, but that whoever would be great must become a servant and whoever would be first, must become a slave (Matt. 20:25-27). When people like Diotrephes take leadership in a church, the church suffers. But John promised Gaius that when he came to visit, he would confront this worldly leadership style.
From: December 7, 2014
God had provided one way for the Israelites to have their sins forgiven, one altar, in one place called Jerusalem. Yet, they chose to build their own altars according to their own desires. They rejected God’s redemption by building their own means of morality. As if their sins were not great enough, this man-made religion was perhaps their greatest sin. In trying to cover their own sins, they multiplied them. This is a foreshadowing of how many have rejected God’s Son today. God provided Jesus as the only means for our redemption from sin, the only way to be reconciled to God. He is the fulfillment of the Jewish sacrificial system, which always pointed to Him. Yet, people today continue to build their own altars, declaring themselves good based on their own thinking. They say, “I have no need of a Savior. My sins did not crucify Jesus. I think He was a good man, a good teacher, but I’m doing fine on my own.” And in saying this they multiply their own sin.
From: December 7, 2013
The principle of sowing and reaping is found throughout the Bible. The principle involves at least two features: 1) You reap according to what you sow. You sow grass, you get grass. Sow weeds, get weeds. 2) You reap more than you sow. This is the principle of multiplication.
We can choose to sow good seed even in seasons of suffering. Even when it is tempting to eat the seed rather than sow it. When we sow good seed, we can trust the Lord with the harvest. And when the time for reaping comes, He turns our weeping into joy.