2 types of People

3 John 9:..Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority 10 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.

11 Beloved do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself.

When you boil it down, there are two types of people. First John clarifies those two extremely broad categories in the life of two men who existed back in the first century. John also gives the markers of those men's lives and who it is that they follow.

Diotrophes

Markers:
1) Put Himself First
2) Did not acknowledge God given authority and wants to rule his way according to his rules
3) Talked wicked made up nonsense against others to elevate himself
3) Did not welcome and love the brotherhood..in fact he expels those that welcome and serve others.

Demetrius
1) Imitates good not evil; that is he humbly serves God and his brothers
2) His life's testimony is clearly revealing the Glory of Christ as he serves and builds others up in truth

So we have two people walking down two diverging paths. One patterned after Satan and one patterned after Christ. The big question is which person are you and which path are you walking down? It is a pretty important question don't you think? It is tough and it hurts I know, but it is something that we must face as the eyes of God watch over our souls.

A puritan prayer of self-deprecation from Valley of Vision.

O lord, My every sense, faculty, member, affection, is a snare to me,
I can scarce open my eyes but I envy those above me, or despise those below.
I covet honor and riches of the mighty, and am proud and unmerciful to the rags of others;
If I behold beauty it is to bait lust, or see deformity, its stirs up loathing and disdain;
How soon do slanders, vain jests and wanton speeches creep into my heart!
Am I comely? What fuel for pride!
Am I deformed? What an occasion for repining!
Am I gifted? I lust after applause!
Am I in authority? how prone to abuse my trust, make will my law,
exclude others enjoyments, serve my own interests and policy!
Am i inferior? how much I grudge others preeminance!
Am I rich? how exalted I have become!
Thou knowest that all these are snares by my corruptions,
and that my greatest snare is myself.
I bewail that my apprehensions are dull,
my thoughts mean, my affections stupid,
my expressions low, my life unbeseeming;
Yet what canst thou expect of dust but levity,
of corruption but defilement?
Keep me ever mindful of my natural state,
but let me not forget my heavenly title,
or the grace that can deal with every sin.