Imitating Godly Examples

Who are you imitating? We all imitate people. Parents, friends, teachers or other influences we will imitate. One thing with becoming a parent soon, is my wife (and I) are afraid that there are things that Liam will pick up or be like. I am my dad’s child. I am stubborn. Just like my dad, I have had to work on controlling my temper. I have a similar sense of humor. My wife asks me where do I want to eat, or what movie do I want to watch, or what do I want for my birthday. I say the same thing. I don’t know. Where did I get that from? From my dad. I have imitated him. And in our Christian life, we need to make sure we are imitating goldy examples.

John is writing to Gaius and has commended him for his faithfulness to serving missionaries, and condemned Diotrephes for his selfish pride. Now he is telling Gaius to make sure that he follows (or imitates) that which is good, and not that which is evil. God wants you to make sure that you imitate godly example. You need to make sure you are following godly examples.

How can you make sure you are following godly example?

Avoid bad examples

John tells Gaius to make sure he does not follow those who are evil, like Diotrophes.

John was worried that Gaius would follow after Diotrophes, because you see someone who might have a bad attitude, and an arrogant spirit, and it looks like they have success, but it is not success in God’s eyes.

Those who influence you, you will imitate to a degree.

I love basketball, but the NBA is ruining the game even for younger players. Because everyone wants to be like them. People want to be Steph Curry or Dame and pull up and shoot from 30 feet away and expect to make it. Or they expect to be James Harden and be able to score even if it is better to pass. Or they see someone who does not use their off hand to score, and they do not try to develop it.

Contemporary Christian Musicians also are influenced by the world, with the rock music, and who they listen to, because when asked about who influences them, most will say some musician whose music and lifestyle is contrary to God.

Who do you allow to influence you? How do you imitate the world? Is it having this I’m so good, Im the best attitude like Diotrophes? Is it being rude to certain people? Is is saying oh my friends can be disrespectful to my parents, or authority?

If you look at v. 11, it says that which is good is of God, and that which is evil has not seen God. Meaning that the source of good is God, and either the world, flesh, or the devil for evil. You need to look at the conduct of those who you imitate, and ask is it from God, if not you need to repent and cut off their influence in your life.

Follow good examples

John goes from Diotrephes to Demetrius, who has a good report of all men.

Demetrius is an example to follow because he had a good report of the truth, meaning he was living according to the truth. Those are people to follow. Those who while not perfect, walk according to the truth of God’s Word.

Those are people who we need to follow

Hebrews 13:7 “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”

Follow them who know God and His ways

Ultimately we need to Follow Christ

1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

What kind of example are you following? What kind of example are you?