Imitate What is Good

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Imitate What is Good

Date: Aug. 29, 2018

Passage

3 John 1:1-15 (ESV)

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

9 I have written something to the church, but 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. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

13 I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 1:11

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

1. Praise for showing hospitality (1-8)

This is Apostle John's letter to Gaius, who was an elder in the early church. John praises Gaius for welcoming brothers and sisters in Christ into his house, even though Gaius did not know them personally. Gaius honored them as people who were doing God's work. When believers show hospitality to each other, the work of God can advance.

2. Do not imitate what is evil (9-15)

There were also bad examples in the church. One of them was Diotrephes, who would not welcome the elders when they visited and who spread malicious gossip. He did it because of self-glory seeking. Diotrephes' actions needed to be pointed out so that others would not follow his example. In the Christian life, actions must match words. Anyone who does evil demonstrates that he does not know God.

Prayer: Lord, help me be a good co-worker by welcoming your servants with hospitality. I pray I may not be influenced by bad examples.

One Word: Imitate what is good

God’s Wrath and Justice

Revelation 6:1-17

Key Verse: 6:17

for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Today's Question

What does God require from us to escape His anger and curse, which we deserve for our sin?

See answer and references