Imitate

 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.

3 John 1:11 (NIV)

Imitation, so they say, is the highest form of flattery. Children imitate parents, for better or worse. The Apostle John commands us not to imitate what is evil but what is good.

John seems to be stating the obvious. Yet sadly, it's often all too easy to miss the wood for the trees. Parents aren't perfect: children are as likely to imitate evil traits of their parents as virtuous characteristics.

Maybe we have evil parents. If that is the case, we are to seek adoption into the family of God. With God as our heavenly Father, we have no excuse but to imitate His perfection.

If we do good, we can't be all self congratulatory. We're to give God the glory for any goodness in us. Our goodness is thanks to God's work in our lives.

'Heavenly Father, please adopt us into Your family and help us to imitate You. For Your honour and praise we pray, amen'.

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