In this short epistle, the apostle John speaks about the importances of the examples of 3 men; Gaius, Diotrephes and Demetrius. While Gaius and Demetrius was positive; worthy of emulation, Diotrephes was negative. The lesson I take from 3 John is how our examples can leave a mark, we must ensure they are positive.
"Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God."
3 John 1:11 NLT.
Of Gaius John says; "Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you."
3 John 1:3-5 NLT.
Of Demetrius John writes; "Everyone speaks highly of Demetrius, as does the truth itself. We ourselves can say the same for him, and you know we speak the truth."
3 John 1:12 NLT.
But of Diotrephes John says; "I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church."
3 John 1:9-10 NLT.
