A Good Reputation

 

DEVOTION

THE 3^RD LETTER OF JOHN

A GOOD REPUTATION

3 John 11-14

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.

13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.

NIV

This dear friend is Gaius and now John introduces us to Demetrius, who we also do not know much about either as he too is not mentioned elsewhere in the scriptures. We would think he either is the bearer of this letter to Gaius or that he lives in the same community and is a member of the same church. It would seem John is using him as an example of someone to imitate what is good. Having a good reputation among the community of faith is certainly desirable and that can only be achieved by having a good character within. False humility is something Paul warns the church in Colossae about. Of course, the true example of what is good is Jesus. However, it is still important to look to Him as our example and imitate the attitude and behavior of Christ than to look to the world, as it is indeed evil and seems to increase in evil with each passing year. Perhaps the people of the world have always been as evil as today, and now because of the multi forms of media, we are simply more aware of this amount of evil. John is making sure we know that our attitude and behavior do not reflect that of evil but of good. We are different, and we should have a reputation of being like Christ rather than like the evil one. John gives his own testimony regarding the truth of the character of Demetrius. Certainly, it would seem to have people of good character speak well of us would be good. Gossip, on the other hand, would be bad, for is always seem gossip carries a negative tone. So, if we do that which is good if we have a good reputation than we can be considered from God. On the other hand, if we are not doing what is good, if we are thinking and acting more like the world, then like Christ, we would have to say we are not from God. That is a pure black and white situation. There is no middle of the road, riding the fence, grey area here at all. We either have a good or bad reputation. How can we have a sort of good reputation or a part-time good reputation? Our reputation is something that is built over the course of time and consistency in doing that which is good is the key. Let us live in a manner that we are spoken well of by God and by men.