Promote What You Want to Permit - 3 John

 3 John 1:12 (ESV)

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.

Public admiration should not be left to the corporate board room but should be also demonstrated in the body of the church.  In this short little letter we have a very big lesson as to the place of public praise in the church.  Similar to the end of most of Paul's letters, John uses his pen to publically praise two disciples of Christ (Gaius and Demetrius).  The Holy Spirit, the real author of this letter,  is marvelously taking the time to praise them. John therefore writes a short, but powerful little letter, about two men who are doing something great in the church.  We tend to leave the use of public praise to the athletic field, Hollywood and/or corporate America.  However, here we see John using praise as a way to inform the church about how two men in the church are furthering the gospel message.  Let us take the same lesson and apply it to our churches today.  Notice how Solomon states it:

Proverbs 3:27 (ESV)

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

when it is in your power to do it.

When we have the opportunity to praise the good, we are do so.   We are not, however, to praise the wicked:

Proverbs 28:4 (ESV)

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law strive against them.

We are to find ways to praise those who are doing good.   Paul did it in each of his letters.  John is doing it here.   We promote what we permit in life.  So, when we see someone do what we want to see in the church we should promote it and that gives others the idea and permission to also do it.