9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
3 John 5-11
He calls Gaius beloved and faithful. One whose love is testified of. He sends people on their way in a manner worthy of God.
I read these words and I think... this is who we are. Those of us who support mission work, who encourage evangelists and pastors and anyone who speaks to others of the Truth of who God is.
I think sometimes we fail to realize this.
At least I do.
I support two friends I went to school with. Both are actively working on the mission field. At one point I thought to go on the mission field but felt blocked at every turn, and often feel I don't DO enough for the Lord. But this passage reminds me that I am.
I am being faithful and helpful and standing with my friends as they work for the Lord. And that is what God calls me to do.
I don't want to be a Diotrephes. Concerned only with myself, working against those who would speak to the truth of God. John reminds us too, that this is not what we are to do, as he plans to speak on this matter when he visits with Gaius. If I were Diotrephes I would be feeling concerned at this point.
Let us be more like Gaius and Demetrius. Receiving good reports in how we treat our fellow believers as they testify to the goodness of the Lord. Let us imitate good and not evil. Seriously, think on this. What would you rather have? People commending you for how well you treat others, or commenting on how self-serving you are? God calls us to more than that.
Let us have a mind to be helpful to those who are going out and speaking of God to others.