Imitate Good

3 John 1:11-14 (ESV)
Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. [12] Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
[13] I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. [14] I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, every one of them.
Do not imitate evil, but imitate good. It can be so easy to imitate evil. It can be so easy to look with envy on churches that have given up on solid doctrine, to pastors who have given up on really being a pastor beyond Sunday morning in the pulpit and saying the words of institution, and maybe occupying themselves with the administration of the church affairs. The question is, is that church? Is being a pastor anything worth being if you aren’t taking God’s word seriously, and honestly trying to shepherd the sheep? The sheep may think they like it. It may be easier on the pastor for a while. But in the end it goes bad for everyone.
Imitate good, now hear is a plan for pastoral ministry. Find the giants of pastoral care, and imitate them, study them, consult them. You know who the good pastors are. You know the ones who have remained faithful to the work. You know the ones who in the end were loved by the sheep and not simply forgotten. Seek them out. Imitate them. The results might not be immediate, but they will be substantial, and lasting.