This final little letter of John’s is to a believer called Gaius and continues the themes of love and truth (v1). John’s greatest joy is to witness believers walking in the truth of God’s word (v3-4). This means living a life with faith in what the Bible teaches and living obediently to what that truth calls for. Are you walking in the truth? Pray about this.

John encourages Gaius to continue to support travelling preachers who have sacrificed so much (v5-8). All of god’s people need to support prayerfully and practically all who teach the Gospel within their congregation.

This church seems to be dominated by a man called Diotrephes whose focus is too much on promoting himself, so much so that he rejects the authority of the apostles (v9-10). In serving the Lord our constant desire should be for Jesus to increase and for us to decrease in prominence.

Gaius is encouraged to imitate the good that is found in people like Demetrius (v11-12) and not the evil which was evident in Diotrephes.

John finishes by expressing his desire to come and meet with Gaius (v13-14). Among god’s people there should be this constant hunger for fellowship.