III JOHN

The following comments are from Navigator's and Quiet Time Diary journals. One verse will be entered, then the comment, then the date.

v. 4    I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

    John is referring to children which are his spiritual children - in this case Gaius, who he was writing to. I'm sure that believers who have led others to the Lord Jesus (I'm not sure if I have) also feel compassion for their new "children." This brings discipleship to mind. (DRM 7/14/06)

v. 7, 8    For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. ⁸Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.

    Since we know that the Name is Jesus, I would interpret this to be a suggestion that we support people who go out to serve the Lord Jesus; like missionaries and pastors and Christian workers of similar work. Depending on the size of the "church" that they are serving, they probably don't have much, or any, additional income. (DRM 1/9/09)

v. 9    I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say.

    It seems that there is always a non-Christian critic. Here it seems that Diotrephes is the critic who wants to create problems. In the full paragraph (v.10), John intends to speak to the church about the problem. I wonder how I (you) would deal with the problem of this man in the church? (DRM 1/10/09)

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.

    I know some good non-Christians. They seem kind and compassionate, but their words eventually show their heart is not on serving the Lord Jesus. I pray that my words will show others my love for Christ, and cause them to know Him personally also. (DRM 7/15/06)