Scripture: 3 John 1 The elder,
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
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. 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. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.
I wrote to the church, 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. 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.
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. 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.
I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 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.
Devotion: All through 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John, we have read about what it looks like to walk in truth and love. The very idea that our actions, such as walking in both truth and love, reveal the state of our hearts is woven throughout the New Testament. Here, in 3 John, we see the state of Diotrephes’ heart. He has wicked words and evil actions, opposing the progression of the Christian church. Despite this manipulative behavior, John encourages the reader of his leader, Gaius, to continue to walk in the truth. He gives the reminder, “Do not imitate what is evil but what is good” (3 John 11).
As humans, we naturally imitate. We are influenced by those around us and often behave similarly to them. Did you have a favorite singer or band growing up? You very well may have tried to sound like them as you sang their music. Or, perhaps you have noticed that you have picked up some of the mannerisms of your best friend or your spouse. Fun fact, I now sometimes snort when I laugh because one of my best friends snorts when she laughs all the time. I didn’t know that was something that you could pick up later in life, but apparently it is! Because we so easily imitate and are influenced, we should exercise discernment. We should emulate the good that we see in other Christians and strive to live a life that is worthy of other imitating. As we are sanctified and our lives conform more and more into the image of Christ, we will bear more fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
As you keep in step with the Spirit, can others see these qualities in you? If they were to look at how you live your life and imitate you, can they learn how to replicate godly attitude and behaviors? We will surely never get this perfect. But the Spirit will continue to work in us and through us to display God’s glory. We know that by fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), we will walk in truth.
Reflect:
- What areas of your life do you feel like God is currently on display? Identify this from the fruit of the Spirit.
- What areas of your life do you feel like God is currently refining you?
- Thank Him for always working in your life and pray that you would bring Him glory through it all.