Bad Company Corrupts Good Character!

 1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character”.

Avoiding certain groups of people can be challenging. You don't want to say “No”. We want to make everyone happy, especially if that person is a close friend or family. As Christians what we call fun they call boring or weird. The bible is warning us not to be easily deceived into thinking his words and admonitions are meant for someone else, and not us. We think that he meant them for someone not quite as spiritual as we are, someone not as mature or smart. We think that is for some weak people, or people who always do what's right. Right? Non-believers never become believers by osmosis. That takes the holy spirit and sovereign act of our heavenly father. James 4:4 says: “ and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God”. Have you ever found that your environment and surroundings have an influence on you? You may have had an experience where you found yourself behaving differently depending on the crowd you're in. We can be very religious around religious friends. We can be or appear to be very prayerful around those who are constantly praying day and night. As human beings we are very influenced by everyone and everything. We are sharable and we can easily adapt to situations in different environments and different people. Have you ever compared your attitude at work vs being at church? Have you noticed that everyone at church you Greek as God bless you or Blessing? But, your old friends you just say “what's up” or “Hey you” “What's going on” The bible says: “And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of him who created him”. The old man is that of the flesh, which manifests itself through self righteousness. Jesus said:  “But to sit to my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those who have been prepared”. It's very important that we know that we need to be prepared because we don't know the time nor the day the son of God is returning. Do not be deceived. Can you imagine if the son of God surprised us in the middle of corrupted people while they are drinking, dancing or mocking God?  “For as those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming on the Son of man”. 

In Butterfly by Grace “Mommy and daughter blog” we would just like it if you can take a minute and examine your heart. This is crucial. We must not think highly of ourselves. We should not think that just because we are leaders we are perfect. We should not think that we are the most holy people. We have been there and failed with a corrupted company. Someone once said to me: “As a leader all eyes are on you” “ You are expected to act and behave differently than those around you”. This brought me to my knees. Whether that person's intentions were godly or not, It's biblical and we are all here to make a difference and an impact in people's life. How can we preach the gospel while drinking with company? How can we preach the gospel while dancing with them? We are expected to be and act diffrently. This is why we are called the salt of the world. “Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you”. Jesus chose to eat with sinners because they needed to know that repentance and forgiveness were available. Jesus went where the need was and we must do the same. What we must not do is act and behave the same. If we can not behave as Jesus did, then we need to take a break from these people and pray for God to take away our weakness so that Christianity is not discredited. 

Lets pray,

Father God we repent of our actions. We recognize that we fail you. We repent of our actions. We ask you for forgiveness and we ask for a second chance to make this right. Father, we know that it is crucial that we be watchful day and night. We know it is crucial that we have our lamps full of oil. Father, we are your children. We bow down to you and say sorry. We accept you as our Lord and savior. We know that you die and rose on the third day and you are sitting at the right hand of the father. Help us be the leaders that are not corrupted, instead the leaders who worship you in spirit and true. For every leader, father let them examine their heart and know that you call us but you can not be mocked. In the name of Jesus, Amen hallelujah