Wednesday, February 8, 2017

III John: A Tale Of Two Disciples

Diotrephes or Demetrius - who do you want to be like?

John tells us about Diotrephes in vs. 9-10.  He is apparently someone who is always grasping to put himself first at the expense of others.  He is a malicious gossiper and has power/control issues which he exerts on the church. 

Contrast this with Demetrius, who we hear about in vs. 12.  Demetrius is commended by everyone, including John and his followers.

I believe the point can be found in between the descriptions of these two men, in vs. 11: Do not imitate what is evil but what is good.  Anyone who does what is good is from God.  Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 

It is pretty clear what John thinks is the case in the two men mentioned above.  The question to us is - who will we strive to be more like?  Diotrephes or Demetrius?  Let us not imitate what is evil, but what is good!

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