3 John 11-15 says...

Today's verses are 3 John 11-15, which read,

v.11 - Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.  The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
 
John goes back to addressing Gaius, someone who he has shared the faith with who has been walking in that faith.  John is asking Gaius to use some discernment of following the fruit of the lives of those around him.  To "imitate" is to mimic or follow after with action.  I think it is interesting that John says the good one is "of" God but the bad one "has not seen" God. 

"...of God;..." - out of, from, by
"...has not seen God." - (have not) to look at, behold, with your eyes

v.12 - Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
 
John gives Gaius an opposite from Diotrephes that we talked about yesterday.  Diotrephes was selfish, seeking power, and rejecting authority.  Demetrius has a testimony that is supported by others, by the truth itself, and by John's own testimony.  I am so thankful for people in my life that are "Demetrius" to me.  First, they live what the Bible says.  Second, others of the church recognize and affirm that they are doing so.  Third, those who mentor me point to them as an example to follow.

Is John judging here?  I think first he is saying to Gaius to "look at the fruit" of someone's life and see if it is matching up to Scripture.  Are others also affirming this that are following Scripture?  Those who are not following Scripture, which should be the appropriate response by Scripture of someone who says Jesus is Lord of their life, then by Scripture they have not grabbed a hold of Christ.  Is John judging?  I think it is Scripture that is judging and he is just applying Scripture to his surroundings.

v13-15 - I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face.  Peace be to you.  The friends greet you.  Greet the friends by name.
 
John ends this letter with the desire to see Gaius again with some more conversation that would be best face to face.  He also reinforces this when he instructs Gaius to "Greet the friends by name."  The word "greet" means to "draw to oneself."  Have times that you are specifically there for them.  We definitely need more of this with those we call "friends."
 
"Lord, thank You for those God-fearing and God-following friends that I have.  Thank You for those Godly leaders that You have directed me to that follow Your Word.  Help me to see that part of my spiritual growth is attached to genuine fellowship time with the body of Christ as a group and as individuals.  Amen."
 
Pastor Adam
A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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