3 John 11 (KJV)
11 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.
In a world full of imitations and comparisons, where people often are not happy or contented with who they are, the likelihood of wanting to be someone else and to copy someone else is a reality. Often than none, people struggle with their identity and are not comfortable with their personality , so they want to be like someone else. The result is that so many people ends up losing their focus and becoming something they never thought was possible. The Bible is encouraging us not to imitate what is evil or be followers of those who do evil. But you say, wait a minute, I don’t follow those who do evil nor do I imitate anyone. Let us consider what the Bible means by evil or imitating someone that does evil.
Evil in the Bible is a demonstration of a nature that is contrary to God, it is doing things that are in opposition to what is right. It is behaving in such a way that your life stands in contrast with what is godly and holy. To imitate means resembling something in such a way that people are unable to make a distinction between you and what or who you are imitating. God desires that we be original. That we be comfortable in our own self and that we follow Christ. Don’t be afraid to be different and to stand out for Jesus. Don’t be afraid to state what you believe and what you truly represent. Don’t give in to a communal thinking, that say, you got to be like us for you to belong. No, you are unique and special creature of God. Be the influence and not the other way round.
How many of our young people have lost their identity because they want to imitate and be like someone else? How many Christians are practicing evil without knowing it because they want to belong? How often are we caught up in doing things that other people want as against what God wants?
May you stand tall and strong for Christ no matter what comes your way. You are blessed and highly favored.
Shalom,
Apostle Morgan
