Although you did not have the privilege of choosing your birth family, you have the right to choose your friends and companions.

If your friends, affiliates or associates are evil, or involved in illegal activities, such could put you under much unjust scrutiny and unfair  assumptions.

For you would be unjustly considered guilty by association.

Hence the Bible states that   ‘Bad company corrupts good morals’ (1 Corinthians 15:33)

You may be thinking that if we only befriend the good people, who will take the Gospel to the unjust.

Jesus Christ our example:

Jesus is a friend of sinners (Read Matthew 9:10-17, Mark 2:15-22, Luke 5:29-39).

The base of that relationship is love, and the purpose is to bring a change in lifestyle and destiny (Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Although Jesus Christ  interacted with His friends he never partook of their evil deeds. 

It is important to clearly define the purpose for your relationships, so that you will deter the corrupting influences of such a relationship.

Soul Searchlight:

How did you handle peer pressure this year?:

a). Were you victimized?

b) Read 1 John 4:4 & 5:4 to build up your spiritual self-esteem.

This is the time to redefine relationships. 

1) Understand whose child  you are and who you are (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 5:10)

2). You  are on a mission and not an aimless wanderer here on earth (Mark 16:15)

3). Although you were saved by grace, you shall be rewarded according to your works. A child that sleeps during the harvest is a child that causes shame( Proverbs 

4). The Kings business requires haste. Learn precision and accuracy by acknowledging God in everything you do, and He will direct your ways. 

Cut yourself some slack and be smart- smart people pray and don’t gamble.

5). Beware  if you are not winning your friends over to Christ, a companion of fools shall be destroyed (Proverbs 13:20)

A fool is Biblically defined as a person who denies the existence of God (Psalm 14:1-3)

Let Us Pray:

Heavenly Father, thank you for protecting us from the wrong kinds of friends that would have ruined our reputations.

Help us Father to be intentional in befriending people who you would save and deliver from destruction. 

As this season is ending, O God, we commit all our friends to you and ask that you grant them supernatural favors and unlimited goodness. 

We also ask that your goodness that leads to repentance show up for our friends who are not yet born again. 

Thank you for loading us with benefits as this season closes,  in the matchless name of Jesus Christ. 

Tomorrow will be Proverbs 14.

Thank you for your feedback and comments. You can email spiritualwarrior24@gmail.com  if you need counsel.

Shalom from Hephzibah Christly, Ph.D.,#TheSpiritualWarrior 

December 13th, 2024