DAY 20 – Reflection

Today’s Scripture:

3 John 1:11 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. 12 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.

This is John’s final reminder to remember who we are – BELOVED – those who are loved. Out of this identity is why we do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. This becomes a direct reflection of who we are in Christ. We can know who we are, who Christ is, and that we live in the truth by letting this testimony be true in us just as it was in Demetrius.

Demetrius is the opposite example of Diotrephes from yesterday.

In one commentary by David Guzik, he says, “John did not excommunicate Diotrephes, though as an apostle he had the authority to do so. Instead, he simply exposed him – and he trusted that discerning Christians would avoid Diotrephes as they should.”

Action:

Take a few moments to audit what you are reflecting. Is it good or something else?

Unless we are completely deceived and totally unable to see our own selves or we do not have the Holy Spirit – we know exactly moment by moment if we are imitating what is evil or good.

Some may think that imitation is like lying, “but Starla, aren’t we just acting like we are good?” well yes! We are! How do we learn? By practicing, by imitation, by following an example. So, what example are we following. Our own whims, attitudes, and things we say display us or Christ? or others who have been found to have a good testimony.

Much of how we are and how we act is determined by who we hang around and what our habits are. Who you spend time with influences the person you eventually become. Who you are with can elevate you as much as it can bring you down.

I hope my life is a good reflection. I hope that people see Jesus. They will also most likely see some of my mom and sister, my husband, my kids, my bff Jen, some of my former pastors Lynn and Karmen Furrow, some of my current pastors Chad and Lindsay Garrison, and the some of the writers I read. Thats how this works.

What we are around is what we become. This is why community is so important. The habits we are forming build inside of a community of people, how we handle hard things within that community, and how we love others – all of these things are building blocks to if we are walking as the Beloved or we are not.

I want to point one more thing out – At first glance, we may think that it is unloving to expose Diotrephes and expect the other Christians to avoid him. But first, he wasn’t sent away or cast out, he was called out. A “calling out” is a call for change. Diotrephes then had the chance to amend his ways, or he will remain in the group feeling separate, perhaps even blaming others for his bad behavior. Or he may even walk away. Which is not the best solution, and doing so actually hardens the attitude that is being called out. Sadly, pride often does end in a fall, as the scripture says.

Secondly, if this is the example that he was giving – this is not the kind of example we are to follow. So, it is our duty not to follow it. We are held to a greater standard – Christ Himself!

Thanks for listening,

Starla