I Should Read 3 John More

I’m not saying we should start a “Make 3 John Great Again” campaign or spread the hashtag #LoveMeSome3John all over our feeds, but if we truly care about going and sending well, we need to take a look at what John says to his fellow worker Gaius. “Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore, we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.” -3 John 5­­–8 For those who are sending people, what does it mean to send in a manner worthy of God? According to John, there appears to be a way to support people who go out to those who have never heard the name of Jesus Christ in a manner that showcases the worth of God. John commends Gaius and his church community for loving these people. He calls it faithful! Helping them go on their journey makes them fellow workers for the truth. By supporting these people who are going out for the sake of the name, this community has declared this journey worthy! Their support expresses the mission of spreading the supremacy of Christ for the joy of all peoples as a worthy investment. The more they commit to sending these people, the more worth they proclaim to God. Sending is worshipful! So, I encourage all senders to let their sending magnify God’s worth. For those who go, what does it mean to go for the sake of the name? These people who Gaius and his church are supporting are worth investing in because they go for the sake of Jesus’ name. This quality is what makes them worthy. They do not go in vanity or in pursuit of adventure. They don’t go because they have to or because they feel obligated to. They go for the reigning purpose of displaying the joys of Christ to all peoples. Out of the overflow of their love for Jesus, they pour out their hearts in service to others. Worship is not only the reason why they go, it is the motivation that fuels the going. This is the kind of Global Worker worth investing in. So, I encourage all goers to let the name rule the heart and to be a goer worth sending.   Written by Staff Writer Cody Irwin