Lesson 18: Practice Hospitality toward God’s Servants
3 John 5-15 (ESV) – www.bible.com/bible/59/3jn.1
God’s Words:
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.
I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.
My words:
Dear Loving Father, I praise You for Your love today … You demonstrated that amazing love when You came to earth, lived among us, died in my place. Please open my eyes to opportunities to demonstrate Your love to others, especially those who are doing Your work, companions in spreading Your Truth. Those who don’t know and love You probably aren’t going to help Your choice servants – it’s up to us in the Family to show hospitality toward them.
Thank You for the missionary family coming to our church later this month to share Your work in another country with us. Show us all the ways we can make them comfortable while they’re here, and nudge our church family to give generously toward their traveling expenses. Please bless them with safety as they travel, and keep their four children healthy. Thank You for the privilege of eating with them, and taking them into our homes overnight. In Your warm, hospitable love, amen.
*When and how can you offer hospitality to God’s servants?