Do you know what Jesus said was the most important thing in this lifetime and forever? Loving relationships. “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39)
Your momma was right! Who you hang out with, the type of company you keep, and those with whom you choose to be friends is critically important. It really, really is. First and foremost is your relationship with God, next is your relationship with others, and then even your relationship with yourself. Each of us needs to pay very close attention to each of these and make them a priority. How are your relationships?
A good friend and mentor or mine, Dr. Paul Ford, has taught for years about how we need to pay very careful attention to those who come across our paths. Paying close attention to everyone we meet, even casually. After all, if relationships are one of the most important things in our lives, then who knows who God our Father might bring across our path? We need to pay very prayerful and careful attention to even those “chance” meetings. Is this someone our Father desires for us to know for their or our benefit or maybe both?
How is your relationship with God? Whom lately, has God brought across your path? Who are your present friends? Who are the key people in your life? These are important things to ponder and to take to God in prayer. Because relationships are central to life and eternity, here are a few Scriptures to consider. (Please read, don’t skip over.)
1 Corinthians 15:33 -- “ Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”
Proverbs 12:26 -- “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
Proverbs 22:24 --“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered.”
1 Corinthians 5:11 -- “ But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.”
John 15:15 – “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
Choose your friends wisely. Look at each new person you meet with a hopeful curiosity, expectation, asking the Lord for discernment. To all you meet show love, kindness, and be Jesus.
Peace,
Steve
Your momma was right! Who you hang out with, the type of company you keep, and those with whom you choose to be friends is critically important. It really, really is. First and foremost is your relationship with God, next is your relationship with others, and then even your relationship with yourself. Each of us needs to pay very close attention to each of these and make them a priority. How are your relationships?
A good friend and mentor or mine, Dr. Paul Ford, has taught for years about how we need to pay very careful attention to those who come across our paths. Paying close attention to everyone we meet, even casually. After all, if relationships are one of the most important things in our lives, then who knows who God our Father might bring across our path? We need to pay very prayerful and careful attention to even those “chance” meetings. Is this someone our Father desires for us to know for their or our benefit or maybe both?
How is your relationship with God? Whom lately, has God brought across your path? Who are your present friends? Who are the key people in your life? These are important things to ponder and to take to God in prayer. Because relationships are central to life and eternity, here are a few Scriptures to consider. (Please read, don’t skip over.)
1 Corinthians 15:33 -- “ Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”
Proverbs 12:26 -- “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
Proverbs 22:24 --“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered.”
1 Corinthians 5:11 -- “ But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.”
John 15:15 – “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
Choose your friends wisely. Look at each new person you meet with a hopeful curiosity, expectation, asking the Lord for discernment. To all you meet show love, kindness, and be Jesus.
Peace,
Steve