To My Beloved Gaius Whom I Love

Study: # 658- Church in the Houses

Pastor: Edith Cruz

From: November 2-8, 2010 TOPIC: “To My Beloved Gaius Whom I Love” 3 John 1:1-8

Here we have a man whose life and testimony were his best recommendation before his Christian brothers. Gaius is a man who came to know the truth and was set free. The walk of our brother Gaius was to admire in all the aspects of his life. I want to say that he was an active man in his faith, he was generous, he gave himself completely and he possessed holiness. Therefore, he was worthy of being admired by all who knew him; no one could despise Gaius’ surrender to the Lord. John, the apostle, writes to him in a letter: "…to whom I love." This is how this road is, a road of love that recognizes the spiritual value of our brothers in the faith. We must be able to say as John did, "…to whom I love", referring to a brother with whom we have true communion. Are you able to say to a brother in the faith as John said to Gaius: "to whom I love"? This road is to love and to allow ourselves to be loved. When we reach in our search for the truth with God the liberty and the purity in the stillness of the Spirit and achieve the perfection in that delivery and obtain the purity and the sincerity of character, then it becomes comfortable for others to love us. When John writes to Gaius we can notice that he was a man worthy of being loved by all. He was a son of God born again. Jesus is the truth and Gaius had believed in Jesus and walked as Jesus had taught the disciples. The disciples followed the Lord’s teachings and they guided all the new believers; Gaius was one of them. Gaius was one of those who heard the truth and became a son of God, and for John it was wonderful to love him. John presents himself in the letter as "the elder" and directs it to Gaius saying to him: "the beloved one, whom I love in the truth." After all, the essence of life is love! It is as if he said: "To my dear friend!" How great it is to have true friends; not because we say so, but by facts. The truth was the sphere in which existed and flourished that mutual love. There was no deceit. Gaius life was great and the life that he carried recommended him very well to his Christian brothers. John prayed for his friend Gaius. If he was sick I don’t know, but Gaius had a friend who prayed for his health and for his soul to grow spiritually. Verse 2 This was the love of John. One thing we want for our loved ones is that they never lack bread, or well-being in their homes. That is why John desired that Gaius would be prosperous in all the things, in health and in his soul. The brothers came to John and testified of Gaius. Those missionaries who were lodged by Gaius spoke to John about this man’s fidelity. All these brothers who gave testimony of the faithful conduct of Gaius showed John that Gaius was a real testimony of the truth. It is clear that those who walk in the truth are honest Christians, true friends. They are truthful in the profession and in the practice. He acknowledged the truth and he manifested the truth in his life. My children walk in the truth. Ones greatest joy is that our spiritual children will walk in the truth. It is terrible to see them go back as the pig to his mud and the dog to its vomit. 2 Peter 2: 22 It is great to see our spiritual children persevere in the Lord. This is why we followup on those who we have won for the Lord. We hear a lot about many who convert to Christ, but little

is heard of those who persevere in the Lord. To persevere in the love and the service for our Lord is of great joy, it is when we see the spiritual children always walking in the truth. Gaius was pious; he showed hospitality to the unknown brothers. John wrote: "Beloved, you conduct yourself faithfully when you serve the brothers." Verse 5 Gaius opened the doors of his house and his life to those who preached the gospel, to those he knew and to the outsiders. To open the doors, to give a place to sleep, food, service, is to be pious. All this love in everything he did for others would be returned to him. Gaius testimony reached John by the same missionaries that he lodged letting him know how he conserved himself in the truth. Gaius kindness was known throughout the church. He didn’t say it, his deeds did. And the Church felt it and those who received it talked about it. Gaius home was open and his heart and this is registered in the Holy Scriptures. He will receive his reward in the Court of Christ. Those who receive a prophet, because he is a prophet will receive the reward of a prophet. Mathew 10:41 This is how it would be in the life of Gaius, he would receive a share of the reward of those preachers that he lodged. That would be to receive the reward of a preacher by giving hospitality to the preachers in the Lord’s name. Those missionaries left because of their love for Christ and only expected from the Lord to supply their needs. They did not want anything from the pagans. To accept something from the impious is to say that your master is poor to provide you. If you accept and live receiving from the hand of the impious, then the impious will use that incorrectly to justify themselves; do not offer them this false security. God had Gaius to receive the missionary brothers and preachers and supply them with everything they needed. Gaius won the love of John and the brothers. He won their friendship; thankfully because he walked his life in the truth. Let us follow this magnificent example and then each one of us will participate of the great blessings that Gaius received. Amen.