3 John 1:11 (NIV)
“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.”

Life’s full of choices. Every morning, you wake up and decide whether you’re gonna be a blessing or a burden. Whether you’re gonna bring light into the world or just be another storm cloud rolling in. John said it plain—imitate what is good, not what is evil.

Now, that sounds simple enough, but let’s be honest—bad habits are easier to pick up than good ones. You don’t have to try too hard to be selfish, bitter, or mean. It just happens. But doing good? That takes effort. That takes knowing the heart of God and letting Him work in you.

Ever notice how little kids copy everything? If Daddy hollers at the TV during a football game, the kid does too. If Mama loves people well, the kid picks that up too. We imitate what we’re around. So the question is, what are you surrounding yourself with? Who are you following?

If you spend time in God’s Word, in prayer, and with people who love the Lord, doing good becomes second nature. You stop reacting in anger and start responding in grace. You stop looking for what you can get and start looking for what you can give.

So today, don’t waste time imitating the world. Imitate Jesus. Love folks well. Forgive quick. Help where you can. And if you mess up, don’t wallow in it—just get back up and keep walking toward the light.

Love is patient. Love is kind. And if we’d all just slow down and be a little more patient and a lot more kind, this world might not feel like such a mess. But patience is tough when folks cut you off in traffic, and kindness isn’t always easy when the cashier acts like you’re interrupting their day.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 that love isn’t jealous or boastful, it doesn’t keep a record of wrongs, and it never gives up. That means love doesn’t hold grudges like your Aunt Edna at the last family reunion, and it doesn’t puff itself up like a rooster in the henhouse. Real love keeps showing up, even when it’s inconvenient.

See, love is more than just words—it’s action. It’s forgiving when you’d rather be right, helping when you’d rather be left alone, and believing the best in folks even when they don’t deserve it. And the best part? That’s exactly how God loves us. So maybe today, let’s put love into practice. Be patient. Be kind. And for heaven’s sake, don’t keep score—just keep loving.

Luke 6:28 says, “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Now, I don’t know about you, but that’s a tough one. Blessing folks who cut me off in traffic is not my spiritual gift. Praying for the fella who talked behind my back? That takes a level of grace I’m still working on.

But Jesus didn’t say, “Be nice when you feel like it.” He told us to bless and pray—period. Why? Because love changes things. Not just them, but us. See, when we hold on to bitterness, it’s like drinking poison and hoping the other person gets sick. But when we choose to bless instead of curse, we break free.

So today, when somebody tests your patience, don’t give ‘em a piece of your mind—give ‘em a piece of God’s grace. Say a prayer instead of a complaint. And watch how God works, not just in them, but in you.