Ladies ~ 17.) Building, improving, and maintaining relationships and effective communication. “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals”” (1Cor. 15:33). Peer pressure can have a huge impact on each and every one of us; but thankfully, some peers’ have a good influence on us. There are some people that are actually good for us to be with and glean from. When you choose to associate with godly people you are prone to make better choices than you are apt to make when you have been spending time with ungodly people. Godly people have wise and biblical principles, habits, interests, resolutions, preferences, convictions, character, and choices that have a positive impact on the decisions that you will make when you are with them. “So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous” (Pro. 2:20). “I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts” (Ps. 119:63). It is wise to examine what God would have us be like and choose friends accordingly because who we spend time with WILL influence us and we them. It is also wise to read books by authors that are wise and biblical - remember that not every book that claims to be “Christian” is of the truth - so use discretion. Spend some time with and make friends of the Puritans who sought to please the Lord and centered on learning the Word tediously. (Yes, some of their writings are harder to understand than what we are used to reading… but it is worth the effort and increases our understanding so that after a short time they aren’t as hard to read any more.) Some of my ‘best friends’ are puritans - Charles Spurgeon, Jonathan Edwards, J.C. Ryle, George Lawson, Richard Baxter, A.W. Pink, etc. and some of my ‘best friends’ are authors - John Mac Arthur, Jerry Bridges, Philip Ryken, R.C. Sproul, and many more! They exhort me to be a better Christian. Remember that they are only people who wrote books, they are not the Bible and they are not our final authority; they too are human. Some boast that they “only read the bible” … the Word of God should, indeed, be our highest priority - but God also gifted certain believers with wisdom, teaching, knowledge, exhortation, preaching, faith, discernment of spirits, “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12). God set it up that we learn the word from our own personal study but also from other godly believers. It is important to spend quality time in the Word of God as well as with godly Christians that are alive and can interact in your life here and now. Godly people are a very powerful influence! Godly people are a gift and blessing from God. Pro 13:20 “He that walks with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” When Joash walked as a protégé under the counsel of his wise guardian he was wise and made wise decisions - but later, after his guardian died, he became a companion of fools and was destroyed just like that proverb teaches. (2Ch. 24). Make a conscious effort to be with those who lift you up spiritually and exhort you to do right. Parents - find good influences for your children to be exhorted by too. Do you know who they spend most of their time with? Do you leave your children to themselves when it comes to choosing their friends…even teens? Teens are very impressionable and vulnerable. Have you read about Rehoboam? Let what happened to him be a warning to us! “And certain worthless scoundrels gathered about him and defied Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and irresolute and could not withstand them” (2 Chr. 13:7). This says that Rehoboam was young and irresolute (unsure, unable to make decisions) …. guess how old he was? He was 41. When Joash walked with his wise guardian he was wise but when, after his guardian’s death, he became a companion of fools he was destroyed. (2Chron. 24). Seek true biblical fellowship really talking about the things of God with other believers. Talk about Jesus and what you have learned throughout the week and draw close to those types of families. You needn’t wait for them to invite you over - YOU make that effort (and keep making that effort) over and over again - often. You don’t need to have a spread of food for them - have them over for dessert or coffee. How do we choose these types of people? The Holy Spirit, through Paul teaches us: “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us” (Phil. 3:17). We are to mark those who walk according to the example that we have in our biblical forefathers and imitate them. We are also to BE this type of example for others to see Christ in us and be encouraged by OUR testimony. You won’t find a perfect believer... but you are very apt to find some that are striving to do right. We are exhorted as Christians to be subject to those who devote themselves to the service of the saints. “Now I urge you, brothers- you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints- be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer” (1Cor. 16:15-16). “I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts” (Ps. 119:63). Find companions like these. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb. 10:24-25). Homework ~ Make a conscious effort to be with godly believers whose example will lift you up spiritually and exhort you to do right. Parents - find good influences for your children to be exhorted by too. (Don’t forget that my new book is out – “Woman of Virtue” ‘Applying Proverbs 31 to the Twenty-first Century Woman’ by Susan Brackley. You can find it on Amazon.)
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 12:33:47 +0000
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