Following good examples! As a Mathematician, I love examples because they make solving the problem easy and predictable. Understanding the example means I can solve the problem while avoiding possible pitfalls and strain. In other words, I am learning from other people's learning, sort of a shortcut. That is why John's advise here in verse 11 is so apt; "Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.
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3 John 1:11 NLT. We take for granted how much we follow the examples of those we have come to accept; a parent, a sibling, a friend, a music star, celebrity, company. Someone said, most of your beliefs are not yours, they were given to you". The lesson here is to be careful what examples we follow and make sure they are good ones. When an example consistently leads you to doing wrong, you know you have been negatively influenced. On the other hand, when an example make doing good easier, you know it's a good one, follow it.
