The joy is not is serving others

Scripture Read: 3 Jn 5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; 6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.

 

Application: What drives us? Do we do things in the end for our own benefit or is there something or Someone greater in the picture? Motive is a very important factor in our walk with You Lord. You do test and weigh what’s in the heart. Should our own welfare even be in the picture, or is that selfish? Consider …

“For the sake” - ὑπέρ hupér - Meaning for, in behalf of, for the sake of ^[1]

 This is the same word used in describing why Jesus sacrificed Himself for us. We know it was unconditional and He did it based on His love, not ours,  so when John speaks like he does here I believe he is stating the obvious. Because of what Jesus did, we do for Him,  not trying to earn love or approval, because He loves us already with His love. Instead we are more motivated by His sacrificial love. Seeing His sacrifice should motivate us to do the same for His name’s sake. What does that really mean? I have found that trying to live like He did in this world for any other reason than Him will fail. There is real pain in discipleship because I – a sinner – is Discipling other sinners and we will inevitably disappoint each other if our confidence is in each other. But if my confidence is in Him and my debt is to Him – that well never runs dry! We want to do what we do and be what we are for His name! Not even in our own name – for our heart can lie to us. As we enjoy serving others for Him, it does end up working for our welfare, BUT that is not the driving factor! That’s the difference in finishing the race. When we serve for others based on others we will quite when they go south! But because He is forever the same when we serve others for Him, even if they betray us we retain the joy we have of serving the person we love the most! Lord – we need your Name to fan the flame of our service! 1 John 3:16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Thanks Lord! 

* Meditation Questions: Do I allow others attitudes affect whether I serve or not? If no one notices my service how does that affect me? What does that say? Can I focus on pleasing the Lord only, and even though my emotions may get hurt, still sense His joy in my service?

---

^[1] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.