3 John 1:11 (CSB)
Dear friends, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
The author of this verse of scripture was the Apostle John. We are to imitate what is good by living our lives in truth and love and forgiving others. We are not to imitate what is evil. We are to avoid feelings of hate and revenge and we are not to act violently. John wrote to a man called Gaius, praising him for the gracious hospitality he showed to fellow Christians and travellers. John was aware that in the church there were people who showed an entirely different spirit to the spirit that Gaius showed. John warned Gaius and others about the dangers of being around people who did not show a spirit of God. There was one man in particular who was imitating evil, his name was Diotrephes. Not only was this man jealous of John but he was disrespectful to others. His nature was one of ambition and selfish pride. John was warning Gaius and others that people who do evil are not of God. John encouraged the people to be kind, patient and hospitable to others and to display a spirit of God.
Dear God,
Thank you for your Holy Spirit inside of us. We pray we always remain living a righteous life; being kind to others, patient and forgiving and displaying a spirit of God. Help us God to avoid being influenced by the ungodly people and ungodly practices of this world. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
