III John is a one chapter book that is very interesting.  John writes his friend Gaius who he has discipled in Christ.  He encourages and commends him and Demetrius while he criticizes Diotrephes.  Early church history teaches us that all three of these men were leaders of churches.  John’s words show us the effect that both good leadership and poor leadership can have on not simply the local church but how it can effect other followers of Christ who are far away.  Let’s look at his words together today.

To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 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. 11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 12 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.

John encourages Gaius to imitate other leaders who are “doing it right” The reality is this message is not simply for Pastors but for all who wear the title of follower of Jesus or Christian.  We are Christ’s ambassadors and representatives for the world.  The way they perceive us is the very way they will perceive Jesus.  There are times in my life where I have done this well and others where I have not.  I remember losing my temper once and realizing what others were probably thinking.  I recently had a more positive experience where I stopped to help someone who was broken down they noticed my shirt and said that if your church is filled with people like you I want to go.  That is why Paul calls us the aroma of Christ, or why Jesus calls us to be salt and light.  When we show others love well we represent Jesus well.  May we all be good representatives of the One who has given us all, our Lord, Jesus.