Called or Choose

DEVOTION 3 JOHN CALLED OR CHOOSE 3 John 9-10 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. NIV Has there always been church politics? What it is about some people who think they should be on control of others? Is there a fear of letting someone who knows the truth so well to have access to their church? What are they hiding? Have they twisted the truth for their own benefit? Pastors, being shepherds of the flock to which God has called them should be careful in allowing strangers to fill their pulpit. God holds these shepherds responsibly for the spiritual well-being of their congregations and thus their must oversee with care who has access to bringing a message. But this is an example of one who fears the truth being told in the church he considers himself to be the leader of. If he was called by God to shepherd this flock, he has both failed his congregation and God. He acts from fear rather than love. He acts from a position of thinking more of himself then he ought to. He is controlled by jealous and envy of those who know the truth and live according to that truth. He fears losing whatever control he has over others if they hear the truth spoken among them. It is a sad commentary on those who choose the ministry instead of those who God calls to the ministry. Perhaps this Diotrephes was not called but chose on his own to be a leader in the church. We all can take a lesson from this, as far as doing, being a part of the body of Christ. We need to make sure that what part we serve within the body is the part which God has called us to. We should not try to serve in an area that is of our liking, our chose but rather trust God to call us to where he would have us serve the rest of the Body and His Kingdom. If we do not have the talent or skills, he will empower us to serve in that capacity. If we choose based on what we think we might well fail but the Body and Christ. The question we need to ask is are we called or did we choose?