December 3
“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God,” 3 John 9-11.
The apostle John wrote to some specific church about the truth and about those who confessed the truth and lived according to the truth. He rejoiced when he was informed that there were other faithful Christians who were equally concerned about proclaiming the truth of the Gospel.
He wrote to the congregation, wherever it was located, about the truth and the love that was shown by fellow Christians. However, he had some fierce opposition from a man who apparently had great influence in the congregation. His name was Diotrephes. He is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. Therefore, we know only what is written about him in John’s Third Epistle. John says, “Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.”
Personally, Diotrephes did not welcome the teaching and preaching of the Gospel which was being done by the apostle John and his fellow Christians. Diotrephes had a pride problem. John says that he loved to have the preeminence among them. He wanted to be regarded as being the leader of the congregation, and he refused to receive what John and other Christians said and did for the building of the kingdom of God.
Today, it also happens in Christian congregations that certain members love to have the preeminence. They want everything to be done according to their opinions and plans. They feel that they know better than everybody else. They see themselves as being head and shoulders above all of the other members. Often, when they cannot have their own way, they threaten to take their ball and bat and go home. Today, there are also instances where this occurs in congregations led by individuals who want to build their own little kingdom.
John was thinking of visiting the congregation, and he said, “If I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words.” Diotrephes went around in the congregation telling lies about John and other Christians. John was determined to confront Diotrephes and expose him publicly for what he was: A liar and a deceiver. However, he had great influence in the congregation. Not only did he himself refuse to receive John and his coworkers, but he also forbade others to receive them. And if they did not agree with Diotrephes and did not listen to him, they were put out of the congregation.
In this whole matter, John pleads with the members of the congregation to avoid all such evil doings and to pursue only what is good and pleasing in God’s sight. John would remind us that Christian faith without Christian works is dead. If we believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Son and our Savior, who redeemed us from sin, death, and the power of the devil, then we will show it by living a God-pleasing Christian life.
“May we Thy precepts, Lord, fulfill,
And do on earth our Father’s will,
As angels do above;
Still walk in Christ, the living Way,
With all Thy children, and obey
The law of Christian love.
So may we join Thy name to bless,
Thy grace adore, Thy pow’r confess,
From sin and strife to flee.
One is our calling, one our name,
The end of all our hopes the same –
A crown of life with Thee.” Amen.