3 John 11-12

3 John 11-12

Beloved, do not imitate evil but rather good.  The one who does good is out of God.  The one who does evil has not seen God.  Demetrius has been testified well by all – and also from truth itself.  And we also testify – and you have known that out testimony is true.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

John gives us a really neat thought here.  We are to imitate good.  I think this is actually a concept that is becoming more and more foreign to the modern mindset, although human beings imitate naturally.  As our society progresses and we as a culture stress independence and freedom more and more, we undermine the value of imitation.  We should be in the habit of imitating good.  We should be in the habit of imitating Christ, obviously.  And we should be in the habit of imitating those who are imitating Christ.  There is nothing wrong with imitating, regardless of how much emphasis our culture places on being independent and being a free thinker.  The two need not be diametrically opposed.

Do you value imitation?  Why is it an easy thing to undervalue?  What are the things you imitate in your life?

Second Thought:

It is likely that Demetrius is the messenger from John who is delivering this letter to Gaius.  It is also likely that he is one of the wandering evangelists about whom John speaks in verses 5-8.  If we can assume that this is true, then this letter from John truly is a recommendation letter for Demetrius and it takes on that tone.  John wants to make sure that as Demetrius heads out in mission that he has a means of finding support in the world.  This letter becomes less of a theological assertion and more of a symbol of hospitality and extending one’s influence for the sake of another. 

Have you ever leaned upon the influence extended by another?  How does that feel?  Have you ever tried to extend your influence for the benefit of another?  How does that feel?

Third Thought:

In the end, what we really have here is a letter from John – a powerful influence in the church – to Gaius – a caring but perhaps somewhat timid leader in the local congregation.  It is certain that Gaius is less timid than Diotrephes, who is kicking people out of the church!  What John is trying to show Gaius is that strength and love must go hand in hand.  If we love but show no strength, we will end up letting the people like Diotrephes walk all over us.  If we show strength but no love, we end up being like Diotrephes.  What John wants Gaius to see is that he should display love to Demetrius and others like him while standing up for their legitimacy in God’s kingdom.

Do you find it difficult to balance strength and love?  Which is easier for you?  Why is it important for you to remember to balance these two dynamics – especially as you interact with a gathering of fellow believers?

Passage for Tomorrow: 3 John 13-15