Imitate Good

Imitate Good

Question of the day:  How do you resolve conflict?

Today we will study the book of 3 John.  This short book is a challenge. It is a letter to a specific person, largely about another specific person about some specific issues and we really don't know what or who any of them are.  It seems that Gaius is someone John feels  at least close in beliefs and a common mission.  Then there is this  Diotrephes person.  Who he is and what he is doing are debated and frankly we really don't know. That makes this passage tricky.  It is a passage intended for a specific situation, therefore we could take what is said completely out of context and get a completely wrong message.  

Let's read it together and then with the guidance of the Holy Spirit dive in.  

READ: 3 John

1 The elder,

To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,[a] even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.

11 Dear friend, 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. 12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.

13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink.14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.

Right off the bat, the greeting from John in verse two, has to be read in context. If we see it as a promise instead of the literary greeting that it is, we are in trouble.  The prosperity gospel movement uses this greeting as a promise and use it as one of their foundational texts.  IT ISN'T a promise.  This is a greeting.  A beautiful greeting, but nothing more.

What is really beautiful about verse 3?

When God said it was not good for man to be alone, I don't think he was only talking about companionship.  It is so helpful to have people around you that believe like you. 

Is it better to be surrounded by people of like mind or those who believe differently?

Is debate healthy or divisive? 

There have been times in my life where I have been discouraged because of decisions made by those in positions above me that I didn't agree with.  There have been some of those recently.  When that happens, there is no question to have people around you who believe as you do and have a common goal and focus can be so appreciated.  John is affirming that in Gaius.

We are going to try to unpack this Diotrephes.  
What did John first do?
What did Diotrephes do?
This was the problem John is trying to address.

How does John handle the conflict or the issue here.  

First he writes a letter because of distance.  That doesn't work.... Then what?

Ignore it?

No matter how difficult things are, we must keep moving forward and we must keep fighting or working to make sure that the mission doesn't die.  

Why are we here?

Ryan's letter to the church last night was wonderful! 

We need to keep the mission in mind.  Keep the gospel in our hearts and let that drive us.  EVEN when it is uncomfortable. 

Then later we hear about Demetrius.  We don't know who he is either, however here are my thoughts.  In verse 12 it reads, "Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true."  John started off by expressing how Gaius was faithful etc. and what joy that brought John to have someone else.  So.... John expresses a problem to Gaius and then share with him someone who is and can be an a support and friend to Gaius.  Maybe?  

Verse 11.

What is your takeaway from this verse?

What does it say to you?

I realize that there isn't much here in this book that is easy for us to takeaway.

For me it is this.

When we are in a position where we are asked to speak up and have the difficult conversations we must! We can't stay silent! If we try and it doesn't work, we must try something else.

Have people around you who will encourage you and support you but don't live in a space where that is all you know by avoiding the conflict.  John showed a lot of courage and I hope to do the same if and when called to do so. 

Last and perhaps my favorite!  IMITATE what is GOOD!

Don't fall into the trap of getting so caught up in conflict and strife that it consumes you, angers you.  Face what needs to be faced but do it all the while keeping your eyes on Jesus and all that is good! I want to keep my eyes on Jesus and make sure that the mission He gives I follow! 

To do that... we have to... we must!!!!.....

KNOW LOVE!

LIVE LOVE!

SHARE LOVE!