3 John: Diotrephes

Today’s reading is 3 John 1.

We discussed Gaius and his hospitality yesterday. By great contrast, we also meet Diotrephes. The sad description of this man says it all: “who likes to put himself first” (3 John 9).

Obviously, someone who puts himself first in opposition to an apostle is way out of bounds. He’s just wrong. I would never, ever do anything like that. Right? And this is where we today need to take care. Diotrephes serves as a warning. I don’t know how Diotrephes was able to justify himself while specifically rejecting an apostle who actually walked and talked with Jesus. Yet, he did, even while John was still alive and able to react.

And here’s the important question. Do you think Diotrephes knew he was a Diotrephes? Or do you think Diotrephes had convinced himself he was doing what was best for the church? Yeah. I’m betting it was that second option as well. Where does that put us today? We are sure we’d never do anything like Diotrephes. But if his arrogance was able to drive him to such lengths while John was still alive, how might we deceive ourselves when none of the apostles are living to call us out?

None of us want to be in charge just for the sake of being in charge, right? We all know too much to fall for such obvious arrogance, pride, and narcissism. But I understand the truth. I’ve studied hard. I’ve figured out what all the Bible passages mean and those who disagree with me are wrong. Worse, they are putting everyone else in danger. I need to protect all the younger Christians and all the newer Christians from all the teachers of error out there. I need to direct all the other Christians who don’t know as well as I do how to live. I need to protect the congregation from everyone who might lead it astray. All the way along I convince myself I’m putting the Bible first, the apostles first, Jesus first. But I accomplish it by putting myself first.

Of course, I need to defend truth as I understand it. However, if I defend truth by putting myself in control, but putting myself first, I can rest assured I’m not defending truth. Frankly, for those who shepherd, deacon, and preach, this takes an incredible level of self-awareness and brutal self-honesty to avoid. Brethren often look to us for leadership. We want to do that well. Leaders with strong personalities can end up putting themselves first and not even realizing it. They convince themselves they are merely protecting the church while they end up just running the show. We become Diotrephes while thinking we are Gaius.

How do we avoid this? Develop relationships with other Christians with the very specific permission to call us on the carpet. John isn’t here to do it. We have to find someone who will. Part of being in the congregational relationship is having to learn to submit to others. It means having to figure out how to get along when not everything goes our way. If you discover you have practically become the sole gatekeeper for membership in the congregation, for who gets to teach in the congregation, for who gets help in the congregation, for the important decisions in the congregation, step back and take a long hard look. If you realize it’s really been a long time since the decision in the eldership, in the leadership meeting, in the planning meetings haven’t gone your way, step back and take a long hard look. The chances that you alone above everyone else know how all of it should go are so slim, you may have become a Diotrephes.

Who in your life has permission to be brutally honest with you about your attitude, your approach, your teaching, your perspective? Who in your discipleship has permission to call you on the carpet? If the answer is no one, take care. Don’t be a Diotrephes.

Tomorrow’s reading is 3 John 1.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does 3 John admonish you?

John 21: What is That to You? Follow Me!

Today’s reading is John 21.

Peter has been restored, given a role, provided reassurance. But he’s still Peter. So, of course, he’ll obviously do something that needs rebuke. And, he doesn’t let us down.

He can’t just let this interaction stand on its own, take comfort, and follow Jesus. Turning, he sees John and asks, “Lord, what about this man?” (John 21:21, ESV). Peter has just been able to tell Jesus he loves Him three times. He’s just been charged not only with fishing for men, but feeding the sheep of Jesus. Further, he’s been told if he will follow Jesus, he will succeed in his greatest promise. But the specter of competition rises up in Peter’s heart. “What about John? What will he do? Will he go as far as me? Will he suffer as greatly as me? Will he do as much for the Master as me?”

Jesus rebukes Peter, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21:22, ESV). Whether John glorifies God by serving Him faithfully on earth until the end of time or he also dies a martyr’s glorifying death, doesn’t change Peter’s responsibility. Peter’s responsibility is not to turn and look at John or any of the other apostles. His responsibility is to follow Jesus.

That is our responsibility as well. This week, we’ve learned even if we fail royally after becoming disciples, we can turn back to Jesus, hang on to Him, and find restoration. We’ve also learned we can still be greatly used by Him. Of course, our first thought was, “But will it be as great as I always wanted? Will it be as great as so-and-so?” Jesus says to us, “If I use them to only provide a cup of cold water for my servants or if I use them to convert kingdoms, what is that to you. You follow me!” And, He is saying, “If I use you to convert kingdoms or only provide water for the one I use to convert kingdoms, what is that to you? You follow me!”

It’s not a competition. We are a team. When we win, I win. When we win, you win. Jesus is our Master. He deserves all glory, honor, praise, and service. Let us just follow Him and be amazed that He uses us for whatever part in the glorious expanse of His kingdom. If we can do nothing more than be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord, that is greater than being a king in the world, but outside of Christ’s camp.

Jesus is beckoning, “Follow me!” Will you?

Tomorrow’s reading is John 21.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does John 21 prompt or improve your hope in God?

Leaders

Today’s reading is Hebrews 13.

In the closing paragraphs of this letter, our author brings up our leaders three times.

First, we are to remember our leaders. That is, we are to think about them. They spoke the word of God to us. No doubt, we are to remember their teaching. We are to imitate the faith of these who led us and spoke God’s Word to us. Sadly, we know leaders who abandoned the word of God, don’t we? But do we not learn the same lesson from those who abandoned it as we do from those who maintained it? Do the outcomes of the lives of those who abandoned God’s word commend themselves to us as honorable? Do they receive outcomes we want? Do they not always point out that living by God’s way and God’s Word is better? In the same way, do not the lives of those who maintain their faith in the Lord commend themselves as lives to be emulated? Remember your leaders.

Second, we are to obey and submit to our leaders. That doesn’t sit well in our democratic society. We want our leaders to submit to us. We want to vote for them and have the opportunity to vote them out. We want them to tread carefully lest we decide to leave. We want to influence them with the social equity we carry from the world into the church. That is not how it should work in the church. In Christ’s church, we recognize our leaders are watching out for our souls. We recognize they will give account for us. When they give us instruction, they are doing so in order to point us and lead us to Jesus. Certainly, we recognize some leaders turn to sin (see Acts 20:29-30; 1 Timothy 5:19-20). If they continue in sin, we are to make no exceptions for them but rebuke them in the presence of all. Yet, where our leaders are not sinning, we are to submit to them. Yes, that means even when they don’t do things the way we would if we were the leaders. Obey and submit to your leaders.

Third, we are to greet our leaders along with all the saints. On the surface, this seems like the simplest of three instructions about our leaders in these final paragraphs. However, recall, the concept of greeting was used as an indication of loving like God in Matthew 5:47. It is so easy to ignore the leaders. It is easy to abandon them. We fear if we are around the leaders they will somehow bring down judgment upon us. Or maybe we think the leaders are so covered up with greetings and love from others that they don’t need it from us. For one reason or another we separate ourselves from the leaders. Don’t. Love your leaders. Greet your leaders. Accept and welcome your leaders.

Tomorrow’s reading is Hebrews 13.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. How can we remember our leaders better?
3. How can we obey and submit to our leaders better?
4. How can we greet and love our leaders better?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?