The first is Gaius who walked in the Truth (Vs. 1-4). Solomon cautioned we should "buy the truth and sell it not" (Prov. 23:23). Truly, Gaius was just such a man to whom truth was a priority. Gaius realized that one must love the Truth above all else. He knew that to save men's souls, they had to obey the Truth. Peter declared one purifies their soul "in obeying the truth" (I Pet. I :22). The Apostle John looks at the example set by Gaius and say with pride, "Greater joy have I none than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth" (III John 4).

The next man is Diotrephes. John describes Diotrephes as one who "loves to have the preeminence among them" (III John 1 :9). Diotrephes loved to be in control so much that it caused him to treat those who taught Truth with contempt. His zeal to rule over the church was so fervent that he refused any letters from the Apostles and sought to undermine Apostolic teaching by saying malicious things against them (III John 9,10). A man so desirous of having his way that he compromised truth could never be the servant of Jesus who was "the way, the truth, and the life." John promised to expose Diotrephes' conduct.

Last of all we read of Demetrius. People who knew Demetrius knew that he stood for the truth. John adds that the truth itself bore witness to Demetrius (III John 12). Demetrius was not satisfied with simply preaching the truth, but sought to convince people by the way he lived. When our lives are in harmony with God's will, truth will be our friend.

We need many men like Gaius and Demetrius in every congregation of God's people. We also need to expose those such as Diotrephes. If John were writing a profile of you, would you be a Gaius and Demetrius, or would you fall more into the personality of Diotrephes. Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good" (Ill John 11).
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