Sunday, July 27, 2025
III John 11
Sunday, July 27, 2025 |
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
For further study - III John 5-12
As we read our extended reading for today, you may recognize someone like one of the leaders in your church. The man's name is Diotrephes. He is a leader of a church John wanted to visit but was kept from doing so by this one who took the preeminence in that church.
Remember, that John wrote III John just before he wrote Revelation while serving as a prisoner on an island in the Aegean Sea, on Patmos. John was most likely a "circuit rider" preacher. He may have started the churches of Revelation 2 and 3 or at least would visit these seven churches on a regular basis.
John would be a shepherd to these churches and present teaching that would build up not only the church, but the individual members as well.
John's pastoral ministry, at the church in question, was being hindered by one of the church leaders. John sees a need to name this man for all to know about his "evil" deeds, III John verse 11. In fact, John tells the church to not follow these evil deeds or the one that commits them. John condemns Diotrephes and his evil deeds publicly to teach those in that church and all who will read this letter.
Also in John's letter, the apostle points the readers to a good example of local church leadership, Demetrius, in III John verse 12. Demetrius is a leader who is reported to be a good leader among all men. Remember, Paul wrote of the qualifications for local church leadership in I Timothy 3.
Verse 7 of that passage says that the church leaders must have a good report of them that are without the church as well as within. The reason for this good report is so that this church leader will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil, which is exactly what Diotrephes had done.
Referring back once more to Paul's writings, the failure in leadership of Diotrephes is how it will be in the last days, II Timothy 3:1-5. Paul wrote of men, lovers of their own selves, high-minded, and having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.
In John's day, the attitudes and actions of Diotrephes were evidence of the last days. That was almost 2,000 years ago. How much more those attitudes and actions depict our day. This is setting the stage for the day of the Lord's return. We must all follow John's exhortation and follow not that which is evil, verse 11, but instead that which is good.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me, dear Lord, to shun evil and follow good, Godly activities.
Sunday, July 13, 2025
III John 1:4
Sunday, July 13, 2025 |
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
For further study - III John 1:1-4
Truth, "What is truth?" This question was asked of Jesus Christ by Pilate as Jesus stood before him just hours before He would die on the cross in Jerusalem. Jesus had answered Pilate's question a few hours before His appearance in the Judgment Hall. Pilate actually questions Jesus on a number of issues, John 18:28-38.
The first question directed at Jesus was, "Art thou the King of the Jews?", John 18:33. Jesus told Pilate that His kingdom was not of this world, or His servants would have fought to keep the Jews from crucifying Him. Pilate's response was another question. "Art thou a king then?" Jesus then told Pilate that He was born to be a King. That was the reason that He came into this world. As a King, Jesus was to bear witness of the truth.
This statement brought out several other questions from Pilate, "What is Truth?" However, this time Pilate did not wait for an answer and Jesus never responded. This was because He had basically already done so. Jesus had said that He was bearing witness of the Truth, and therefore what He had been saying is Truth.
It was earlier in the evening, in the Upper Room with His disciples, that He had revealed to them He was the Truth, John 14:6. In that Upper Room, the writer of III John - John the Apostle - was one of those who heard Jesus' claim to be the Truth.
John had been traveling with and learning from Jesus for over 3 years at this time. John knew that indeed Jesus was the Truth. It was that Truth that Jesus bore witness of that all who would come to Him, He would take to be with the Father.
John would go from Passion Week to establish a number of churches in Asia Minor, Revelation 2-3. It was his ministry of teaching the truth about Jesus Christ that was such a personal blessing to John. But John's greatest joy was to see and hear, III John 4, of those he had ministered to that were "walking in the truth".
In the Last Days men will pervert the truth. They will have difficulty telling the truth because they do not have Him who is the Truth. The truth is that the opposite of truth, false teaching and deception, will get so bad that The Truth will return to make everything right. Until that time, we must spread the Truth, walk in the Truth, and teach others the Truth. Like John, this will give us great joy.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you Lord for the Truth that sets me free, help me to spread the Truth to others.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you Lord for the Truth that sets me free, help me to spread the Truth to others.
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