Having seen a good example in vv.5-8, John now gives us an example of what to avoid.
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.
When we acknowledge the truth of Jesus, and submit our lives to this truth, we will find ourselves wanting more and more not to act like this.
The example here of Diotrephes is certainly what not to do.
He was proud – …likes to put himself first…
He was putting himself as the ultimate authority in his own life – …does not acknowledge our authority.
He was gossiping – …talking wicked nonsense against us.
He was refusing to show hospitality – …refuses to welcome the brothers…
He was preventing others showing hospitality and excommunicating them from the church – …stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
When we see examples like this in God’s Word, we would do well to remember the principle of 1 Peter 5.5, James 4.6, and Proverbs 3.34, wherein we see that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
“The truth of Jesus that guides our lives will surely help us to resist pride and receive grace.”
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When we truly acknowledge, profess, and possess the truth of Jesus, there will be more humility than pride in our lives, and we will want to resist pride at all costs, and receive grace above all else.
Point to ponder – What am I doing today to resist pride and receive grace?
Prayer – Father, we thank you that your Word has both good examples and bad examples in it for us to learn from. Help us to learn from this passage in 3 John today, help us to resist pride, and help us to receive grace more abundantly than we could ever imagine. Amen.
James Travis 