3 John — Greeting, Support and Opposition
Thoughts about serving others
This link includes a list of posts about Serving the Least, the Lost, and the Lonely.
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Let the Word evoke words. May your life encourage lives.
In this short letter, John commends Gaius and Demetrius while calling out Diotrephes, “but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us…refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church” (3 John 1:9-10). Diotrephes is a not just a bad example, he is in some position of authority in the church since he is able to remove people from the congregation. I wonder if there once was a letter from John to Diotrephes…what it was like. Since there is no other reference, perhaps God wants us to simply be aware of leaders who do not show or support hospitality “in a manner that honors God” (v6-7). Perhaps this is the lesson we should learn.
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (1:4). I know this verse speaks to the growing church as a whole, but as a parent, it brings me great joy to see my children walking with Christ and likewise, great pain to know that not all hold onto this truth. Lord, may all my children come to know and love you fully, not so much for my joy, but for your glory. Yes, I admit, I would have no greater joy than to know they are walking with you, fully devoting themselves to you in all they do.