READ 3 John 1
John praises and encourages Gaius for his "witness of... love before the church" (v. 6).
 
INSIGHT
Affirmation is a powerful force for good in the Christian life. We all long to be affirmed for who we are and what we are doing. We all like to hear: "Good job." In essence, that is what John writes in his third epistle. He affirms Gaius in several areas: for his knowledge of truth, for his application of that knowledge, for offering hospitality to fellow Christians and to strangers, and for helping to support traveling missionaries. Good job, Gaius.
 
PRAYER
The Lord has not left us without instruction but leads us to truth, and so we praise Him:
All you have made will thank you, Lord;
The faithful will bless you.  
They will speak of the glory of your kingdom
And will declare your might,  
Informing all people of your mighty acts
And of the glorious splendor of your kingdom.  
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;
Your rule is for all generations.  
The Lord is faithful in all his words
And gracious in all his actions
(Psalm 145:10-13).
 
Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Then I acknowledged my sin to you  
And did not conceal my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble.  
You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance
(Psalm 32:5, 7).
 
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father! ”(Romans 8:15).
 
As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

• Personal discipline
• Christians who are persecuted for their faith
• Your activities for the day

 
Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).