40 Days Pondering the Fruit of the Spirit

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days PONDERING the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Day 18 | FAITHFULNESS
FAITHFULNESS

3 John 1:2-4
“Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.”
(NLT)

The elder Apostle John wrote this letter to Gaius, his dear brother in Christ (see verse 1), after receiving word from some traveling teachers about Gaius’ faithfulness to living per the Truth of God’s Word.

The Philipps paraphrase says:  “I was delighted when the brothers arrived and spoke so highly of the sincerity of your life—obviously you are living in the truth.”

Gaius was faithful to the Truth and was living his life so that people could SEE his faithfulness to God’s Word by the way he lived. Gaius’ walking in the truth made John very happy!

Faithfulness here would also mean that that person was trustworthy or reliable.

Revelation 2:10 says: “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Gaius was obviously someone who would be faithful even unto death.

When other brothers or sisters in Christ look at your life, what do they see? Someone wishy-washy in the faith, or do they see a level of faithfulness that the “traveling teachers” saw in Gaius and returned to tell John?

Prayer: LORD, I need help in living so that – like Gaius – it’s obvious what I believe and Who is my Lord. Teach me, lead me, speak to me, Lord. Amen.