Thursday – Letters

Reading – 3 John

Highlight Verse:

“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

The three letters by John have an interesting progression.

1 John is a general letter to all believers.

2 John is likely written to one specific church.

3 John is apparently written to an individual, though this individual was a leader in his church.

Much of this letter is written to counteract Diotrephes, who was leading people astray claiming that John and the other apostles were wrong.

Over my life I have seen many people like Diotrephes.

Somehow, they think that God has given them special insight to show them the “true” meaning of Scriptures.

They then bad mouth anyone who disagrees with them.

How can you tell if they are right or wrong?

• When they exclude every other point of view.
• When they use their exclusive viewpoint as a basis for asking for money.
• When they talk more about how others are wrong than about the gospel.

Christianity today has many Diotrephes type characters.

The self-centeredness, greed, and sinfulness of certain “Christian” leaders has driven many people away from the truth of the Gospel.

Today’s highlight verse tells us how to deal with the Diotrephes in our lives.

Don’t let them influence you.

Follow the truth in the Word of God.

When someone stands against that truth, don’t let them influence you.

I would take it a step further and say the best way is to become a beacon of truth that would outshine the lies of those who twist the truth.

Have you been influenced by the lies of those who twist scripture to their own benefit?
How did you discern between truth and lies?
How do you deal with the lies?