How To Be Supportive Amiss Times Of Distress

True hospitality consists of giving the best of yourself to your guests

Eleanor Roosevelt

I grew up with a big extended family. Almost every month we are at someone’s house attending some party. It was fun for me, being able to have fun, bond and play with my cousins and other kids. At a certain time, my father’s siblings had most celebrations in their eldest sister’s household.

All my aunts and uncles have their own task to do while supporting each other. And this is the same for the children. We have our own assignments, like washing dishes, wrapping utensils in a napkin, and chopping the ingredients. All family gatherings, whether it is only our families or with other friends, always starts with a prayer my eldest aunt usually led. We did party preparation as a family and celebrated as a family.

Do you have this tradition in your family? How do your family hosts guests?

Christian Hospitality

Alice Cooper, although not a man of faith, described accurately how to be a Christian when he said, “Drinking beer is easy. Trashing your hotel room is easy. But being a Christian, that is a tough call. That’s rebellion”. He is correct that it is a rebellion for we, as Christians, do not live by the standards of this world but by of God.

It is always easy to follow the trends and dictates of society. Jesus knew this when He said, If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I choose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you (John15:19).

Who do you look up to in living your life? Where does your moral rests?

Bible Reading

Today’s devotional reading is from the Third Letter of John. Please, read our recent devotional from the Books of Obadiah and Revelation 9: How God Discipline, Love, and Protect His Kids.

True Service

David Brainerd said, “We should always look upon ourselves as God’s servants, placed in God’s world, to do His work; and accordingly labour faithfully for Him; not a design to grow rich and great  but to glorify God, and do all the good we possibly can”. And that was what Gaius did in his local church in which John commended him (v. 1-4).

Gaius served not only the people in his local church but extended his help to the travelling brothers and sisters, and strangers (v. 5). His love for Jesus manifested on how he treats his fellow believers and others.

How Support Should Look Like

Gaius’ help with the missionaries was a powerful support since missionaries relied on churches for their daily needs. Likewise, his church depended on the support he received from its congregation. The congregation were the same people who reached by these missionaries.

See how the cycle goes? The primary source of support of a Christian is Jesus, and He uses others to show His help to us. And He also uses us to be His instrument of aid to others.

Not like Diotrephes, who was doing the exact opposite of what Gaius was doing. He thinks of himself first and stopped people in his church who wanted to help and cast out those who opposes him (v. 9-10). Sad to say that there are Christians who are like this. That is why we should strongly reprove them meekly, lest they will depart from walking with Jesus (Titus 1:13 & Galatians 6:1).

Acknowledgement of Authority

Diotrephes did not acknowledge the authority of John being an elder. He also puts himself first, which is a total opposite on the teachings of Jesus. The scriptures clearly stated, For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

Is it not what is going on with the world right now? Disregarding God’s existence and in extension His authority over us. People do not want to think about Him, as if this will help them when judgement day comes. Likewise, government not understanding nor accepting the authority of God is a scary thing. They do not realize that God is the reason that they are in a position of influence.

They create laws and restrictions that are opposing God’s commandment. It is scary because some of these rules, which are contrary to Jesus’ teachings, approved even they know that is against God’s will.

Reflection

This is the time for your journaling. Reflect on these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit to test your faith and your walk with Christ.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? — 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV

1. Whom do you serve?
2. Are you of this world? Or of Christ’?
3. How do you support people around you?
4. Is your help exclusive to your loved ones?
5. Do you acknowledge God’s authority in your life?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, who rules over the world. We adore and glorify Your holy name. Thank you, Lord, for calling us out of the world to be Your servants. May You call more people to follow you and soften their hardened hearts.

Thank You, Jesus, for showing us how to serve and support each other. To uplift one another and to be accountable for each other until Your return.

We thank You, Holy Spirit, for reproving and correcting us as we traverse this world and wait for Jesus’ to come back.

All these we pray in the saving name of Jesus. Amen.