September 10, 2015

“Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become co-workers with the truth.” 3 John 1:8

“The apostle John, now an old man likely writing from Ephesus, wanted to encourage his friend Gaius to keep true faith in Christ burning brightly in his heart and the hearts of those in his church (3 John 1:1,4). So he penned a letter that referenced the great importance of two things—the teaching of the true gospel and the importance of fellowship. Without those things, Gaius’ church would be doomed to experience the cold ashes of dead faith.

John was pleased that his friend was “living according to the truth” (3 John 1:3). What’s more, Gaius and the fellow believers in his church had warmly received traveling teachers—likely John’s emissaries—who were instructing them in the truth. One man, Diotrephes, was not welcoming the traveling teachers because of his desire to be in control. John condemned the power-hungry, unrighteous leader and lifted up another, Demetrius, as an example of one who “does the truth itself” (3 John 1:12). “Our Daily Journey” devotions part of Our Daily Bread online devotions from Two Things We Need

Co-workers. We have them at our places of employment, and sometimes we are thrilled with the people we call “co-workers” . Other times we complain and complain about our “co-workers” because they do not fit our ideas of work, cooperation, or enthusiasm. But having co-workers does not stop at our places of employment. We also have “co-workers” in the church (our places of worship), and in the Church (meaning the Church Universal). Our “co-workers” in the gospel will be our friends at church, and also the ones we just cannot stand to be around. They will be the ones we share bible study and ministries with, and others will be the people with whom we sit on church council and find them to be exhausting to be around. And yet, we are “co-workers” in the gospel of Jesus, and these volunteers sometimes have more power than our co-employees in the day to day operations of the church.

When we are “co-workers” in the gospel of Jesus Christ, we need to work very hard at limiting our need for power and influence. The human quest and need for power and influence will always squelch the power of the gospel — if not immediately, it will over time. We damage and limit the work of the gospel when we place our own individual needs above the power of the Holy Spirit.

We are co-workers — not self-employed — but part of a team — ship-mates together fighting the storms of life — with Jesus as our captain.

Pastor Dave