Monday, July 16, 2018

3 John 9-11 Don’t be a Diotrephes!

3 John 9 I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction. 10So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church.
11Beloved, 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.

“malicious slander against us.” Gossiping 
The Greek verb which is here translated ‘gossiping’ comes from a root which was used of the action of water in boiling up and throwing off bubbles.
“The word signifieth . . . to talk big bubbles of words . . . it is a metaphor taken from over-seething pots, that send forth a foam; or . . . from overcharged stomachs, that must needs belch.” (Trapp)

Gossiping, slanderous talk, are you guilty of this? 
Sunday at church while volunteering in a ministry a father was rude and refused to follow or accept our instruction for a program. Every time this family is there it’s always something. It’s affecting the staff and the volunteers and the ministry. They judge us by our looks, posture, words and are rude.
I am reluctant to say it, but something needs to be done. 
Meetings, emails, texts and phone calls won’t cure this problem. 

“Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.”
Maybe it’s time to deal with the Diotrephes that uses this ministry?
Please pray for this ministry and this family!

Don’t be a Diotrephes!


Blessings, David 

No comments:

Post a Comment