Watch your walk

Do not be misled: “bad company corrupts good character.” ~1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)

It has been said we become the company we keep.  It has also been said that we are the average or sum of the people we spend the most time with.  Scripture confirms this to be true in Matthew 16:6 where Jesus tells His disciples “Be careful, be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (NIV)  Jesus was telling His disciples to be careful of the actions of those influencing them and of the teachings they were listening to before what they saw and heard took root in their lives and became a mindset that was contradictory to the word of God.  The bible teaches faith comes by hearing.  We believe what we hear if we hear it long enough and especially if we hear it from someone we trust. That is how the enemy develops strongholds in our lives.  He tells us lies and we believe them.  The enemy craftily creates a foundation and structure to our thought patterns that are contrary to what God has told us and he does this beginning very early in our lives.  What do you think when you look in the mirror?  Do you look at yourself and say “Wow I am a one of a kind!  I am wonderfully made!” or do you hyper examine every line and blemish?  Do you focus in on the features you have been telling yourself are your worst for decades?  There is only one you and God says He formed you in your mother’s womb and every feature you have was exactly what He picked out for you.  Are you happy with you?  If not, loving others as you love yourself might not be putting your best foot forward!

The enemy isn’t just trying to build strongholds in our lives through influencing our self-talk.  He is actually orchestrating a network of people to encourage us into wrong thinking.  Who is the negative Nelly or Ned in your life?  Who is it that just can’t wait to give you the scoop of what someone else has done wrong?  Have you ever thought about how that makes you feel about the other person?  Does it promote love and forgiveness and acceptance?  Of course not!  Negativity begets negativity.  When we spend time with those who believe as the world believes and acts like the world acts that doctrine works through us like leaven. The world believes it is okay to compromise our integrity “with the little stuff” like envy or gossip.  But Jesus said in Matthew 5:21-22 “You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.” (MSG)  Think about the conversation and counsel you receive from the five people you spend the most time with.  Does it line up with what God tells you?  Does it encourage you to do what God expects you to do?  That should be an eye opener!  Scripture teaches in Galatians 6:1 “if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” (NIV)  God wants us to pay attention to who we are spending our time with and especially what we are listening to.  He wants us to develop relationships with people who have character…His character.  In other words, watch your walk.  Live on purpose.  Choose who you hang out with wisely; they have a lot to do with who you will become.

As iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. ~Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

Of the last 5 people you talked to, who is steering you towards the Lord? What steps will you take to spend more time with the good influences in your life?

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