I had much to write to
you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink.
THE STUDY:
The farewell remarks in the letter
are similar to those in 2 John 12, although specific words vary. Some of the
variety is due to the fact that 2 John is written to a church (“the chosen lady and her children,” 2
John 1), whereas 3 John is directed to an individual (“my dear friend Gaius,” 3 John 1). As in 2 John, the elder speaks of
his reluctance to write at length, preferring to see his recipient in person (v
14).[1]
John’s heart is both full
(for Gaius) and burdened (because of Diotrephes). What he needed to say
could not be put on a single sheet of papyrus or in a longer letter for that
matter. An overflowing heart must give way to a bolder course of action. Yes,
he would come and confront Diotrephes (v. 10). He would also come and enjoy the
company of Gaius as well.[2]
WHAT WE CAN WALK
AWAY WITH ….
- We walk away this morning with the understanding that sometimes situations call for a letter of sort and other times it calls for a face to face encounter. Whichever the case may be (good or bad, pleasure or conflict), one or the other is necessary.
- If a person has done well in a situation you may want to send them a card, a letter, or give them a call. If they have gone above and beyond expectation, a personal face to face recognition may be required. However, if someone needs constructive criticism you may want to send a letter, an email, or a personal message. But, if someone needs reprimanded, a personal encounter is called for.
CONCLUSION:
One of the biggest fads of this
generation can be found in the aspect of social networking: AKA – Facebook! I
have to admit that I have an account and love being able to keep in contact
with family, friends (old and new), and my congregation. Just like anything
else though, Facebook can be a place that is not used properly.
Facebook should be a place that
mimic’s emails, letters or phone messages: A letter to a longtime friend who
wants to catch up, an email that expresses ones perspective on a family situation,
or better yet a phone message expressing ones condolences.
What we find, though, is Facebook
being used as a diary for teens (instead of things being written in a private
book) or a place for adults to express displeasure toward others instead of
dealing with those individuals face to face. John shares with the reader and us
that there are some things that can be penned down and expressed on paper but
there are so many other things that needs to be addressed personally (face to
face)!
Let today be a day we send a friend
a letter or card just to say how much we appreciate them and make an
appointment to go talk to that person who may have wronged you last week. Don’t
put this situation out in the public, address it privately and watch God work
in the midst of it.
Blessings my friends
Pastor Rod
[1]
Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3
John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary
(218). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.
[2]
Akin, D. L. (2001). Vol. 38: 1, 2, 3 John (electronic ed.). Logos
Library System; The New American Commentary (251). Nashville: Broadman &
Holman Publishers.
No comments:
Post a Comment