Be like Gaius

I learned about a new character in the bible today. His name was Gaius. Have you ever heard of him? The book of 3 John was a letter that was written to Gaius to affirm and thank him for his Christian lifestyle, and to encourage him in his faith.

Do you remember those "Be like Mike" commercials? Well we should want to be like Gaius. He was the perfect example of God's children living by the standards of the gospel.

Other than 3 John, there is no other mention or information about Gaius. We know that he is someone whom John loved dearly. Gaius most likely opened up his home to John and showed him great hospitality during his travels.

John would have really appreciated these actions, because traveling preachers depended on expressions of hospitality to survive.  Hospitality is a lost art for many people today. I am not the best at hospitality either. I am a clean freak and really enjoy cleaning up, but when somebody makes what I cleaned up messy, I can easily become annoyed. Hospitality is something that I know I can work on and improve. Hospitality is an active and much-appreciated way to show your love.

In an individualistic time, it is even more important today. In a self-centered society, many lonely people wonder if anyone cares whether they live or die. If we find a lonely person we need to show them that we care.

Here is what John wrote to Gaius in 3 John:

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good healthy and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. (3 John 2-8)

You can see from these powerful words how loving and hospitable Gaius must have been. I  encourage you to live in such a way that would reflect what John had to say when he wrote his letter to Gaius.