Prior to this verse John tells how he wrote to the church but Diotrephes wouldn’t receive him because he wants to be in charge.  He would not receive John or the missionaries that came there.  He, in fact, cast out of the church those who received the missionaries.  John’s telling them it’s a good thing to receive and give to the missionaries.

Now he says in verse 11 not to follow that which is evil but to follow that which is good.  We’re to follow and imitate that which is good.  If someone, even someone in the church, is not doing what is right then we’re not to follow them.  We’re to follow what is good.  And we have the Word of God and the Spirit of God within us to show us what is good and confirm it in our hearts.

God and His Word are to be the ultimate authority in our lives.  We are to follow that over and above what a person in the church is doing.  Be careful who you listen to!

Confession:

I will not follow what is evil but I will follow what is good.  I will not follow practices, even practices in the church, that are not in line with what is good as is shown in the Word of God.