A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Thursday, January
10, 2019
We saw
this greeting in the entrance of a grocery store in
rural Lebanon County.
Many
retail establishments in our area unashamedly bear a
witness for the Lord!
"Disruptive
Diotrephes"
Message
summary: Do not
imitate what is evil but
what is good!
Listen to our message on your audio player.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"I wrote to
the church, but
Diotrephes, who loves
to be first, will not
welcome us. So when I
come, I will call
attention to what he
is doing, spreading
malicious nonsense
about us. Not
satisfied with that,
he even refuses to
welcome other
believers. He also
stops those who want
to do so and puts them
out of the church.
Dear friend, do not
imitate what is evil
but what is good" (3
John 1:9-11).
We've had our
cat Dottie for nearly 18
years now. We picked her
out of the litter born
to a barn cat when we
first moved to Lancaster
County in 2001. In her
old age she's slowing
down but still appears
reasonably healthy and
begins purring loudly
whenever she is picked
up. Saturday she had her
rabies vaccine shot at
Tractor Supply, the only
time she ever makes a
trip out, which seems to
be enough for her
liking.
One of
Dottie's peculiar
characteristics is she
likes to find creative
new places to lie down.
For instance if I tear
down a box and place it
on the barn floor she
has to check it out. I
suppose she's assessing
whether it might be just
a little bit more
comfortable than all the
other familiar places
where she lies down.
About 99% of her current
schedule is spent lying
down and resting. This
is up considerably from
the 90% she had used for
lying down and resting
when she was in her
prime younger years.
One of
Dottie's peculiar
characteristics is she
likes to find creative
new places to lie down.
For instance if I tear
down a box and place it
on the barn floor she
has to check it out. I
suppose she's assessing
whether it might be just
a little bit more
comfortable than all the
other familiar places
where she lies down.
About 99% of her current
schedule is spent lying
down and resting. This
is up considerably from
the 90% she had used for
lying down and resting
when she was in her
prime younger years.Once Brooksyne
came into our home
office and there was
Dottie, lying right
across the computer
keyboard. Perhaps the
keys had a therapeutic,
comforting affect on her
back as she was
sleeping. (Actually I
imagine if I were able
to lie down on a 6˝ foot
keyboard it might be
rather comfortable in a
strange sort of way!)
Afterwards we noticed problems with the computer. The screen was dark and the wireless would not work. Initially I made no association with the problem and Dottie's lying on the keyboard so I spent several hours troubleshooting the problem to my great frustration. Finally I discovered that the problem was related to Dottie's brief siesta on the keyboard. She had apparently hit several key combinations disrupting the computer!
Afterwards we noticed problems with the computer. The screen was dark and the wireless would not work. Initially I made no association with the problem and Dottie's lying on the keyboard so I spent several hours troubleshooting the problem to my great frustration. Finally I discovered that the problem was related to Dottie's brief siesta on the keyboard. She had apparently hit several key combinations disrupting the computer!
Now Dottie is
just a cat and I'm sure
she wasn't trying to be
disruptive but that's
not always the case with
humans, who really
should know better. Some
people are characterized
by their disruptive
behavior and/or
attitudes!
Diotrephes is one of those interesting Bible characters who reminds us that the early church had problem people just like churches in our own day and throughout the generations. But he was a real corker! His character is summed up in the phrase "who loves to be first". Apparently he never learned the childhood concept expressed in the simple acronym "JOY" (Jesus, others & you, what a wonderful way to spell joy.)
In the passage the beloved Apostle John goes on to say, "So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good" (v. 10). I use a descriptive adjective for this Bible character, "Disruptive Diotrephes". Looking back, I have dealt with some troubled people through the years and a few real troublemakers as well, but really, no one like this Diotrephes!
I sure don't want to be like a disruptive Diotrephes! I'd rather follow the example of dedicated Demetrius, whom we mentioned in yesterday's message, another lesser-known Bible character whose story is told in 3 John as well. "Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true" (v.12).
Diotrephes is one of those interesting Bible characters who reminds us that the early church had problem people just like churches in our own day and throughout the generations. But he was a real corker! His character is summed up in the phrase "who loves to be first". Apparently he never learned the childhood concept expressed in the simple acronym "JOY" (Jesus, others & you, what a wonderful way to spell joy.)
In the passage the beloved Apostle John goes on to say, "So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good" (v. 10). I use a descriptive adjective for this Bible character, "Disruptive Diotrephes". Looking back, I have dealt with some troubled people through the years and a few real troublemakers as well, but really, no one like this Diotrephes!
I sure don't want to be like a disruptive Diotrephes! I'd rather follow the example of dedicated Demetrius, whom we mentioned in yesterday's message, another lesser-known Bible character whose story is told in 3 John as well. "Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true" (v.12).
Are you like a
disruptive Diotrephes or
a dedicated Demetrius?
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
I desire to honor You
as I develop and
maintain healthy
relationships with
others in the body of
Christ. Help me to
resist the temptation
to always be first as
I put to death my
selfish nature. I want
to apply Your love and
grace toward others,
especially in matters
where I lack
understanding or where
I may express myself
differently than those
who have authority
over me. Remind me to
be quick to pray and
slow to criticize so
that I do not disrupt
the work of the Holy
Spirit in my life or
in the life of the
church. Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"Choose Joy" Video Calvary Church worship band (includes conclusion of the sermon which introduces this rather unusual song).
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