3 John vv1-15

Pastor Dave reminded us that loving one another was important to the apostle John and so was truth. In fact, he used the word truth over 40 times in his gospel and letters. Dave challenged us to ask ourselves: Can I say with John that nothing gives me greater joy than walking in the truth? Before the Lord, meditate on what walking in the truth means, not in some general, abstract sense but in your life. What does it – what would it – look like?

John commends Gaius for offering hospitality to brothers – fellow believers – even though they were strangers. By supporting men who had “gone out for the sake of the name,” Gaius was partnering in their ministry. Dave suggested we can do the same by supporting foster families through Calvary’s Fostering Hope ministry; I thought about offering a warm welcome and encouragement to our missionaries Jim and Lynette Hatcher when they visit this winter. Ask the Lord to show you gospel needs you can fill as a fellow worker for the truth.

Gaius was doing something that pleased God and yet his actions were opposed by a man named Diotrephes. Don’t be surprised when it happens to you, Dave said, quoting Romans 7:21: So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. Lift up those who are taking a step of obedience to the Lord – perhaps a person planning to be baptized in early December or the men of our TLC house – and ask the Lord to help them stand firm when attacks by the evil one come.

John instructs Gaius, and us, to imitate good. Paraphrasing the writer of Hebrews (13:7), we should identify people who are walking in the truth and imitate their faith. Ask the Lord to bring to your mind a brother or sister in the Lord whose life is worthy of imitation. Ask Him to help you watch and consider, learn and grow, and follow in their footsteps.

Calvary Family

Lift up the Men’s Breakfast next Saturday, November 5. Pray that many of our men will bring guests and that God will be glorified in everything said and done that morning.

Ask God to use the Fostering Hope events next Sunday, November 6, to educate our congregation about the world of foster care and the many ways to help foster kids. Events include a panel discussion with Calvary’s three active foster families, a resource table, and the kick-off of our Christmas drive benefiting dozens of local foster families.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

P.S. There will be no prayer blog next week because we will have out-of-town family visiting.

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