Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 3 John 1:11 KJV
The epistle of 3 John was written to encourage discernment in the examples we follow. It focuses on the examples of three men, providing a commendation for two of them and a condemnation for the other. Verse 11 instructs us to follow good examples and reject evil examples. Gaius and Demetrius are set before us as good examples because they knew, loved, and walked in the truth. These are the kind of people we want to fellowship with, they know the Lord. Diotrephes is an evil example, the kind of Christian leader we should not fellowship with or follow because, by his actions, he does not know the Lord. In his desire for preeminence he has no room for sharing ministry with the Lord or His servants.
Lord, I have sought to follow the examples of Gaius and Demetrius in my life and ministry. I want to have a good report of men and especially You. Help me to always do faithfully whatever I do in the way I treat Christians and strangers.
