Thursday, October 6, 2016

Beyond the Gospels: 3 John

Today's Verses: 3 John 5-15
(Click on the link to read today's scripture.)

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good.
3 John 11

We are called to imitate good... do good. Let's wander through a few of God's words on doing good.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 (emphasis added)

We were created in Christ to do good.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 (emphasis added)

The good we do shines like a light pointing others to the One who is good.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,  and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?  So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James 2: 14-17 (emphasis added)

Faith apart from good work is no faith at all... it's dead in fact. 

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap,
if we do not give up. 
Galatians 6:9

All this good can wear us out apart from God. We must learn to lean on Him as we imitate His goodness in our lives. Don't give up! Keep doing His good work! For in His time and His way, we will reap the good we sow in our own lives and in the lives of others.

Father God, in the world today it's sometimes hard to distinguish
what's good and what's evil. What's right and what's wrong.
I do know You alone are Right and Good. Teach me to follow You,
Your way, according to Your Word. I want to do the good You
created me for and never be an example of evil.

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