The Little Letters - Day 32

11 Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.
“These verses comprise the didactical climax of the epistle.”
What does that even mean?

Well, “didactical” means to instruct, and to instruct excessively! 
So this basically means it is the heart of the instruction that the Elder is trying to give to his friend Gaius. He wants him to hear this section more than any other. It is the apex of the teaching, and the Elder is desperate that his friend may hear this.

Every once in a while in a sermon, I will say; “If you don’t remember anything else, remember this . . .” That would be the didactical climax of my sermon! You get it!

So we should pay attention to what is being said. The Elder is pivoting back to a personal note to his friend, and he wants him to know he shouldn’t “mimic” the actions and behaviors of this authoritative and out of control leader. The Greek word that is used is actually the root of the word “mimic”, so the author is being very direct and clear.
 
It is possible that Gaius was already doing some of these things, at least by the way the Greek is written. However, it is unlikely given the encouragement the author gave to Gaius in verses 5 and 6. Probably, the author was making sure that Gaius didn’t think that John approved of what Diotrephes was doing, and especially how he was going about it.  

I wonder, have you ever had someone caution you about behaving like someone else? I can remember when I had a new friend in high school that my parents didn’t really approve of. They reproached me one day about it. (Okay, reproach is probably a little strong, we had a talk) They let me know they didn’t like the influence this person was having on me at the time. I, of course, got sort of annoyed and acted out a bit. They used that to confirm what they were saying about a change in behavior. Kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy I guess.
 
The point is that sometimes we point out things and the recipient isn’t super excited about what they are being told. We don’t know how Gaius took this, but we do know that the church endured.

1. How do you take advice when it comes from someone you respect? Even when it is not something you want to hear? 
2. What can you do to make sure you don’t become a leader like Diotrephes? 
3. What are you responsible for leading at this point in your life? How can you expand your influence and leadership?