For I rejoiced
greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as
you walk in the truth.
3 John 1:3
Dear Heavenly
Father, I praise Your name and worship only you. Life in You is so much simpler and fulfilling
than the one under the world. I no
longer have to strive for acceptance and things. I no longer have to guess what I have to
do. I just have to live for You. Please help me to remember that no matter
what challenge is before me or what decision that has to be made - all I have
to do is to have faith in You and follow Your will. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
In verse 3, John
writes the thanksgiving statement for the opening of the letter. Thanksgiving is defined in English as an
expression of gratitude especially toward God.
When the word is used in the New Testament, it is eucharista in the Greek which means the giving
of thanks for God's grace (unmerited favor), an act of worship. To bring deeper understanding to today's
text, let's examine some key words and their companion or similar verses.
"Rejoiced"
in the Greek is chairo which means am
glad, to delight in God's grace, to experience God's grace (favor), glad for
grace. Rejoice, joy, and grace all come
from the same root word, xar, which
means favorably disposed, leaning toward.
2 John 1:4 states "I was greatly delighted to find some of your
children walking in truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father." "Greatly" in the Greek is lian which means very, very much, exceedingly,
extremely, vigorously, utterly, exceedingly beyond measure. John is delighted exceedingly beyond measure.
"Brethren"
in the Greek is adelphos which means
member of the same religious community, fellow Christian, believing
husband. "Testified" in the
Greek is martureo which means bearing
witness, give evidence, give a good report, testimony born not in word but in
deed, attest the truth about Christ, witness to the truth and how great it
is. John is utterly excited at the news
from fellow Christians on how Gaius lived in Christ not just by mere words but
by powerful Godly deeds.
"Truth" in
the Greek is aletheia which means not
merely truth as spoken, truth of idea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral
sphere, divine truth revealed to man, straightforwardness, true to fact,
synonymous with reality opposite to illusion, the truth as taught by
Christianity, respecting God and the execution of His purposes through Christ
and respecting the duties of man opposed to Gentile superstitions - Jewish
inventions - and corrupt opinions of false teachers. "Walk" in the Greek is peripeteo which means conduct my life, live
going full circle, walk around, to regulate one's life, to conduct
oneself. Gaius's deeds are execution of
God's purposes. Gaius conducts his life
focused on and respecting God. He
ignores superstitions, made up rules, and corruption.
Do I rejoice when
God uses others? Do I respect the deeds
of others done for Christ? Do I testify of the truth that is in others? In John's thanksgiving, he passionately
highlights how Gaius lives as all Christians should live. John has no trouble pointing to other
people's walk. He is encouraged and
refreshed by seeing others live for Christ.
Never let your own ambitions or worldly desires to be liked on Facebook,
Instagram or whatever cloud your thoughts of God moving in other people
lives. Give God the glory and be
encouraged that Christ works in all of us. That all Christians have God's unmerited favor. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
For I was greatly
pleased when [some of the] brothers came [from time to time] and testified to
your [faithfulness to the] truth [of the gospel message], that is, how you are
walking in truth.
Amplified Bible
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