“We’re the best of friends, and I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul!”
Some seasons of life make friendship harder than others. People move. Schedules fill up. Priorities shift. It’s easy for connections to go quiet without even realizing it. But lately, I’ve been thinking about how much we still need real friendship—deep, lasting relationships where we show up for each other with grace, honesty, forgiveness, and love that doesn’t wear out.
In the short book of 3 John, we see a beautiful glimpse of this kind of friendship. The Apostle John writes to his dear friend Gaius—not to correct him, not to teach a lesson, but simply to encourage him and bless him. Gaius, whose name means “happy” or “rejoicing,” is someone John clearly loves deeply. It’s not flashy or dramatic—it’s just full of kindness, respect, and faith. And in those few verses, we see what it really looks like to love a friend well.
Over and over in John’s letters, we’re reminded of Jesus’s command to love each other, to forgive freely, and to live sacrificially. That same heart comes through in this personal letter. What John writes to Gaius gives us a powerful example of what biblical friendship can look like—and what it takes to be a friend who loves like Jesus.
John’s words show us that a true friend expresses agape love. That’s the highest form of love—selfless, unconditional, and enduring. It’s not about liking someone when they’re at their best or agreeing with them on everything. Agape love says, “I see you, I know you’re not perfect, and I’m here anyway.” It’s the kind of love that stays.
John also prays for Gaius—not just for his faith, but for his health and for everything in his life to go well. It’s such a tender, thoughtful thing. A good friend prays over the big things and the small things. They lift up your name when you’re weary and bless your path even when you don’t ask them to.
There’s something else in John’s letter that stuck with me—he encourages Gaius in his faith. He acknowledges that this journey isn’t easy. That staying faithful is a process with ups and downs. And that Gaius’s persistence matters. Good friends do that. They remind you of what’s true, especially when your heart forgets.
And finally, John celebrates his friend’s character. He calls out the ways Gaius has shown hospitality and served others. He doesn’t just notice it quietly—he says it. That’s something we don’t do often enough: affirm one another. Let the people we love know that the way they live, love, and give matters.
So this week, I’m thinking about that kind of friendship. The kind that John and Gaius shared. And I’m asking myself—am I that kind of friend?
Do I love people with grace, even when they don’t get it right?
Do I pray for them behind the scenes?
Do I encourage their faith when the road gets hard?
Do I bring out the best in them and tell them when I see it?
It’s easy to look around and feel like close friendship is rare. But maybe the invitation this week isn’t just to find that kind of friend—but to be one.
Because friendship rooted in Jesus is more than a comfort—it’s a calling. And if you’re reading this and thinking, “I want that,”—you’re not alone. Let’s start by loving one another like John did. With joy. With prayer. With truth. And with a kind of faith that says, I’m in this with you, no matter what.
Now that’s BombDiggity.