{"id":490,"date":"2017-02-15T09:24:12","date_gmt":"2017-02-15T09:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.devotionsfromthebible.com\/dvblog\/?p=490"},"modified":"2024-11-27T10:45:12","modified_gmt":"2024-11-27T10:45:12","slug":"daily-devotional-in-iii-john","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.devotionsfromthebible.com\/dvblog\/iii-john\/daily-devotional-in-iii-john\/","title":{"rendered":"Daily Devotion in III John"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"648\" height=\"110\" src=\"http:\/\/www.devotionsfromthebible.com\/dvblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/iiiJojn.jpg\" alt=\"1611 KJV Artwork from III John\" class=\"wp-image-2490\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.devotionsfromthebible.com\/dvblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/iiiJojn.jpg 648w, http:\/\/www.devotionsfromthebible.com\/dvblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/iiiJojn-300x51.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 648px) 100vw, 648px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Artwork from a 1611 KJV<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/www.devotionsfromthebible.com\/dvblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/IIIJohn.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>HEAR the devotion and KJV chapter.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Daily Nugget:<\/strong><br>Every church has its \u201cgood\u201d and \u201cbad\u201d members.\u00a0The church that John was writing to in III John had several of both categories, I am sure.\u00a0However, the apostle wrote of three members in his letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two of the members were good representations of what a Christian should be.&nbsp;Gaius was the \u201cwell-beloved\u201d (III John 1). He was most likely a friendly person who many loved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many reports from the church told John how Gaius was a blessing in the church family (III John 3, 6) and how the man attended to the needs of other Christians (III John 5).&nbsp;It was evident by his care for the brethren that he truly loved the members of his church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another blessing in the church was Demetrias. John also heard good things said about him (III John 12).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those two were an encouragement to the apostle\u2019s heart.&nbsp;It is always good and encouraging to hear how people get saved, get their hearts and lives changed by the Holy Spirit\u2019s work, and do much for the cause of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People like those two men encourage others by their proof of love for the family of God.&nbsp;They are sometimes part of the reason many stay faithful in church.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, even if we are saved, we still have sinful flesh to contend with, and there will often be \u201cstinkers\u201d in every church.&nbsp;In this church, there was one like that.&nbsp;His name was Diotrephes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Diotrephes had a terrible testimony in the eyes of others.&nbsp;Instead of showing the spirit of meekness the other two outstanding members showed that man exhibited improper Christian behavior. He was known for always wanting recognition (III John 9).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I can imagine Diotrephes was one of those that always had something to say. He was the one that got much of the attention and the glory.&nbsp;He refused to accept John the Apostle and any missionaries John sent to the church (III John 10).&nbsp;This discontented man did all he could to talk poorly of John and his work. Diotrephes even had people kicked out of the ministry that showed charity to anyone Paul sent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This type of man ruins the testimony of any ministry.&nbsp;When man tries to get the glory, which Diotrephes was attempting to receive, the Holy Spirit is grieved. The work for Christ in a ministry can come to a screeching halt because of iniquity.&nbsp;That is one reason many once-thriving churches are now spiritually dead and doing little for the cause of Christ. Men like this man, unfortunately, often become an excuse for many to leave a church.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In every ministry, there are the two types.&nbsp;The good workers are the light in a dark, sinful world.&nbsp;They make the church a Christian family. The evil (III John 11) members should be ignored and not be the reason anyone leaves a church.<br>If one leaves a ministry because of a \u201cDiotrephes,\u201d one can be assured that the Holy Spirit is not involved in the decision. If you have one or more of \u201cDiotrephes\u201d in your church, do not leave.&nbsp;Get your eyes and ears off them, and focus on the Saviour.&nbsp;He will never let you down, and He is the reason you should attend anyway!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Today\u2019s Thought:\u00a0<\/strong><br>\u201cIf you see the obstacles, your eyes are off the Saviour.\u201d\u00a0\u2014 Author Unknown<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Words to Understand:<\/strong><br>Preeminence: more influential; having a higher importance<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Today\u2019s Reading:<\/strong><br><em>III John<br>1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.<br>2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.<br>3 \u00b6 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.<br>4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.<br>5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;<br>6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:<br>7 Because that for his name&#8217;s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.<br>8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.<br>9 \u00b6 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.<br>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.<br>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.<br>12 \u00b6 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.<br>13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:<br>14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Daily Nugget:Every church has its \u201cgood\u201d and \u201cbad\u201d members.\u00a0The church that John was writing to in III John had several&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2490,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_374886073925309_111414703907598":"","twitter_429426831_429426831":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[33],"class_list":["post-490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-iii-john","tag-church","wpcat-65-id"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.devotionsfromthebible.com\/dvblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.devotionsfromthebible.com\/dvblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.devotionsfromthebible.com\/dvblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.devotionsfromthebible.com\/dvblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.devotionsfromthebible.com\/dvblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=490"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/www.devotionsfromthebible.com\/dvblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/490\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5353,"href":"http:\/\/www.devotionsfromthebible.com\/dvblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/490\/revisions\/5353"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.devotionsfromthebible.com\/dvblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.devotionsfromthebible.com\/dvblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.devotionsfromthebible.com\/dvblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.devotionsfromthebible.com\/dvblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}