Support and Opposition

Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.  I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 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. Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
3 John 5–12
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Support and Opposition
The devil’s wicked plan is to destroy our faith and bring to naught all that Jesus has done. He uses wicked lies, deceptions, and wordplay to confuse and create doubt where God bids there be order and peace. He puts temptations before us to entice our feelings and emotions and draw us into his trap by our passions. The Holy Spirit has placed before you the pure Word of God. He calls you by the Gospel and enlightens you with the gifts of heaven so that you can do good. It is the very Word of God that strengthens our faith and nourishes us in our work. John asks us to be imitators of good. What is good? God alone is good. But he makes you good by the blood of his only Son, Jesus Christ. He waters and gives the growth that you produce works that are pleasing to him and beneficial for your neighbor. Be watchful of the devil’s scheming and trickery. Concentrate on the Word of God, check your life and the preaching of your pastors by it. It is the only foundation and jumping-off point for life. You have been made God’s children. You are of God. You do good because Christ died for you.