The single chapter of 3 John shows us some very interesting points:

“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the pre-eminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.” 3 John 1:9-11

In these verses, he speaks of Diotrephes’ wrong behaviour, who was not looking out for the interests of the Work of God, but his own. In the same way, there are many Diotrephes’s scattered about…

“Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.” 3 John 1.12

In this verse, he speaks of Demetrius – that the truth itself bore witness of him. How strong! Having the truth bear witness of us means that Jesus Himself testifies for us, saying that we walk rightly before Him.

“For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 1:3-4

We can identify ourselves very much in these verses. We rejoice when we hear of people who have received the Holy Spirit and are standing firm in the faith. This is the joy that makes us strong, since it is the reward for the hard work we do.

I left football when I was 23 years old, answering the call of the Holy Spirit to win souls. Today, I see former teammates who are retired and with a lot of money in their accounts. However, none of them are wealthier than I, lol! Do you know why?

“I found Jesus, I found Jesus
O, what an incomparable joy
For I’m saved, I have light
And inexplicable peace”