Contemplative Bible Reading

3 John 1:11 (New Living Translation)

11 Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.

John is writing to a dear friend named Gaius. A man named Diotrephes wasn’t welcoming traveling teachers. That was not right. That was setting a bad example of how to live.

John’s urging is simple: follow good examples and don’t follow bad examples.

Yes, that is simple. That should be easy to do, huh? Well, it must not be easy to do because I don’t do it enough. What is wrong with me? How can I be so foolish? I can excuse it as part of the failure of the human condition, but no, that is just an excuse. I should do better.

What is remarkable is that God still accepts me. God’s grace still covers my failings and keeps me clean so that I can be in God’s presence. Thanks be to God. And please God, help me in my unbelief.