John concluded his second epistle by cautioning his audience not to entertain or receive false teachers. Now, in this third epistle, he commeds a faithful and well esteemed Christian named Gaius whom he referred to as his son. He was receiving and supporting itinerary missionaries. John said that he was overjoyed in hearing that Gaius was walking in the truth. As Gaius was doing, walking in the truth means that we also aid and show kindness to those who preach and propagate it. That is the idea of supporting missionaries. A Christian who loves the truth of God's Word will love and support its propagation. 

 

On the contrary, there was another man Diotrephes who sought fame and self-exultation in the church. He was not serving Christ but himself. He resolved to maligning, bad-mouthing and opposing those who loved, supported and propagated the truth. As it was in the time of John and throughout the history of the New Testament Church , the church of Christ  has never lacked Diotrepheses. They take issue with the truth and those who proclaim it, especially when it doesn't feed their ego or is not in agreement with their sin. They not only oppose those who proclaim and propagate the truth but seek approval and sympathy from among God's people portraying themselves as victims to draw a following. Like John said he would do with him, Diotropheses should be called out or else they get exposed eventually. John exhorted that God's children should not be like this. 

 

Demetrius was another godly Christian that John commended. John did not say many things about him, but he said that his godly testimony was known by all. What a testimony! It's one thing when the people we on Sunday at church are the only ones who have good things to say about us but, our families and work mates know us differently. But it's another, when all who know us gave a good report about our Christianity. What do all people know about us?