QT 2/13/2025 3 Jn 1-4, The importance of the word of God in protecting you from evil

 

3 John 1–4 (ESV) —

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

 

NOTE: John opens up his short personal letter to Gaius with a prayer. It is certainly a prayer for him physically and spiritually. In some versions, the word prosper is used, but I don't think it is a prayer for financial success (as some want to interpret it). The root words that make up eudoo are eu and hodos. The root word eu means well or well done. The root word hodos means way or journey (referring to a traveler). John was praying that in his journey in life as a believer, things would go well. It is not that God is against financial success; Abraham, Job, Joseph, David, Solomon, and others are examples of very wealthy men. But Jesus makes it clear, that for most people, money can become a god, and you cannot serve two masters. So, God provides what we need, usually not what we want.

 

I agree that there are few joys in life that compare to seeing people you have helped spiritually grow deep in their faith. It is one of the most satisfying feelings one can experience in life. One the other hand, it is quite discouraging to hear of people you have helped spiritually abandon God's word for an idol (God made into an image of what they want to believe rather than what the scripture teaches). This latter group believe they are still following God, but they are not.

 

Many are falling into the "deconstructionist" movement today. If you are not going to the word of God for answers, you are being deceived by Satan. You must walk in truth. Our culture is controlled by the evil one and he is laying traps to pull you away from the faith. Don't fall for his lies! He promises freedom but you will ultimately only experience captivity to sin.

 

PONDER:

1. Are you in a "deconstructionist" phase of your faith? Leave it now if it doesn't focus on God's word. You are in great danger.
2. Have you ever experienced the joy of seeing someone come to the faith and grow in faith? Why or why not? Maybe your faith is not worth following.

 

PRAYER: Father, bring us back to the word of God. We may not like all that it says, but it is truth. Your word will always be more true than anything else I can believe. Protect from the evil one's schemes, he has been a liar from the beginning.