Saturday, April 24, 2010

Contrast Part 2

III John 1:9-11
9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Diotrephes

Now we come to Diotrephes, quite a different “character”. He certainly is the opposite of Gaius. No one needed to “brag” on him, he did that himself. He loved to have the preeminence. He always had to be noticed. If you didn’t know what he did he would be the first one to tell you how great he was. I look at him as “a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

He used idle talk with malicious words against the believers. If he had the chance to tear someone down with his mouth he would take the opportunity. He did not care who he put down as long as he himself was lifted up. Gossip was probably a main part of his life.

He was not content with anything. He was definitely a half empty kind of guy. Pessimistic was his middle name. He was negative about everything. There are two sides to everything and Diotrephes always saw the bad side.

We also learn that Diotrephes persecuted Christians. He casted them out of the church. Who did he think he was? Obliviously he thought he was in control. He did not recognize the authority of John or the authority of the Lord Jesus. He was self centered, self absorbed and self righteous, all of which are not characteristics of someone who loves God. Verse twelve says, “… he that does evil hath not seen God.”

Do we “brag” on ourselves? Do we need to always be the center of attention? We can learn from Diotrephes what not to do.

Have a blessed day,
Donna

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