Bad Company

• Printable Version - Share on Facebook - Posted by Dion Todd September 30, 2015 - Filed in Devotional - 12,090 views
  Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers; But his delight is in Yahweh's law; On his law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper. Psalms 1:1 WEB
  
  Though it did not start out that way, or show itself immediately, we slowly became like them. First standing around talking, and then sitting and listening to the cynical, bitter gossip in church. Before too long, I felt just like they did and I could begin to hear it in my speech. I am not sure why I did not see all this negativity before, how could I have missed it? It was very subtle and creeped in. Finally we got a grip on it and moved away from that side of the church and life was better.
  
  Walking, standing, sitting is progressive and a gradual slowing in the speed of your walk. In 1 Corinthians 15:33, Paul wrote that bad company corrupts good character. While it is certainly relevant outside the church, we found that it can be pretty bad inside the church as well. The fruit of the Spirit is: 'Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control' (Galatians 5:21'23). None of that was present in the company that we kept.
  
  Choose your friends wisely and keep good company. Though to balance this message, I should tell you that we have had the Lord put people into our life as a test. As long as we resisted, they persisted. But when we submitted and loved them back, they left.
  
  Sylvia and I once attended a church where I was playing in the praise team and she was seated in the sanctuary. Sylvia loves her 'personal space' and I smoked for a decade twenty years ago, but now it makes me nauseous and gives me a headache when I am around it, so I try and avoid it as much as possible.
  
  A lady soon started sitting right beside us and we both could see that God had sent her. She wore thick furry long haired coats and smoked like a locomotive. The smoke would permeate every fiber of her clothing and hair. She would then sit tightly beside you, throw her arm around you, completely enveloping you in an overwhelming mixture of nausea, light headedness, and mild suffocation. A few times I began to heave during one of her enveloping embraces as if I were licking an ash tray.
  
  She was as clingy as silk on a winter morning. I could see Sylvia from the stage leaning further and further away and the lady leaning in closer and closer. She became a magnet and Sylvia's best friend, even following her to the bathroom, but was overall a sweet person. Finally we just surrendered and hugged her back just as enthusiastically as she hugged us. Soon she was gone from our lives. God can put the unlovable right in front of you and then ask you to love them anyway. My heart goes out to the people that experience this but as you walk with God, you will probably face this test. Jesus touched the lepers, the sick, the lame, the unloved, even His enemies, and He allowed people to touch Him back (Matt. 8:3, Matt. 20:34, Luke 22:51, Mark 5:27, Luke 7:39, Luke 18:15).
  
  The company that you keep will affect your view on life. They can bring out the best in you, or the worst. They can inspire you, or depress you. Many are happy where they are and will not want you to grow. Do not hang out with bad company as they will bring you down to their level. When God places an unlovable person in your life, be nice and love them back. It works.
  
  Prayer: Father I thank You for loving me and ask that You help me love others. Put Your love in me for mine is lacking. Help me see people through Your eyes and separate me from those that I should not be around, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.