3 John 1:10 ESV
So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
John is specifically talking about a false teacher named Diotrephes in this passage. He rejected a previous letter from John and did not welcome the brethern into the church. John speaks of coming to deal with this head on - face to face.
At first glance, this scripture seems so far removed from our current reality, but really think about it and we live this way all the time. There are people we don't want to have anything to do with. It might be someone a little too righteous for us, a little too un-righteous, too rich, too poor, too mean, too nice, too clean, too dirty, too whatever..
We talk "wicked nonsense" to our children and our friends behind closed doors about who we will and won't accept into our lives, into our homes or even who we will sit with at church. We put these people out of our lives and out of our minds, or try to, in an attempt to not have to acknowledge them as our neighbors, and therefore, do not have to apply Jesus's command of loving them.
We are called to love, but the power to tear each other down is strong.
Who will you involve in your activities today? Who will you welcome? Will you take a stand against the Diotrephes in your life?
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