Do your friends push you toward Christ or keep you from growing? Do they challenge you in your walk with Him? The people we surround ourselves with influence us more than we know. Spending time with those who are on a different walk than you, and who have different beliefs than you can alter your own and cause you to compromise. Before its too late, evaluate. While you have the chance, ask yourself, “Are these people pushing me on in Christ, or away from him? Are they leaving a godly influence on my life?” I know that this blog post can be a difficult topic for many, but don’t click the back arrow just yet.
Friends is a term that is thrown around too loosely now-a-days. True friends are ones who love you, care for you, tell you the truth, are there for you, and, most importantly…lead you to Jesus no matter what. The Bible warns us not to surround ourselves with those who are unequally yoked. 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” That means to not invest in, pour our hearts into, spend quality time with, and conform to those who are not on the same walk to Jesus as you. Then you might say, “But, what about the unbelievers? There are so many of them in this world, and they need us! If we’re not friends to them, who will be? We need to bring them to Jesus and be a light.” Then bring them to Jesus! Don’t sit around and soak in their lounge, get comfortable, compromise, and stay on their level! The moment you do, you are settling, and that is a problem. If you are spending quality time with an unbeliever so you can help them, then why are you watching those ungodly movies, swearing, wearing sensual instead of modest clothing, and listening to their music instead? The outcomes of having ungodly friends in our inner circle is more serious than we think. They can drag us away from our Savior. These "small choices" will start to become habits, and over time a lifestyle. “So they get to know me better” you might say. "So they'll like me and spend more time with me." If that is why we hold back from sharing the gospel with them for now, then so far:
In order to make a difference, we’ve got to stand firm in our beliefs and be committed to being a light and salt, instead of a dimmer and sugar. Jesus said that those who act one way around a certain group of people, then change the way they are around another, are called hypocrites. We don’t want to be in trouble with the King of Kings for hiding our light, even temporarily so we can soak in the “fun” a little bit longer. We will be made fun of for showing others Jesus, and sometimes you will lose your friendship for the sake of Christ. But do not ever put your beliefs “on hold” to be accepted by somebody. They might not accept Jesus, but it is no your job to change their hearts. That is God’s job. Your part is to stay pure before the Lord, show them His love and truth, and surround yourself with godly people who will push you on in your walk with the Lord. Friendships are work. Finding godly friends are like finding diamonds in the rubble. Staying true to Jesus while ministering to your unbelieving friends is difficult. Speaking up when your friend is pressuring you to do something that you do not agree with is nerve-wrecking. But is Jesus worth it to you? I’m not asking you to throw away the idea of having friends, but am asking you to stand and say, “I will put God first, no matter what and let You lead me in the friendships You have for me.” You may realize that its time to cut that unhealthy relationship, so let Jesus restore. You may feel alone and like no one want to follow Jesus with you, but you’re not alone. 😊 You may be perplexed about what to do next in a friendship that is ungodly, but God is the Father of wisdom. Jesus is patient, but He is also zealous. He will do whatever it takes to have us. We’ve sinned by placing others above Him, but He is forgiving. We need Him to bring us the right kind of friends in our lives who will encourage us towards Himself, and He knows of just the people. We need wisdom on how to balance being a light to the world and a friend to God, and He has the answers. Like a good friend, He will never abandon you, and He loves you right where you’re at. Proverbs 18:24 - A man [that hath] friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother. Love you friends! Hannah K. I Dare You #12- Text or call one good or close friend of yours and tell them how much they mean to you. If you don’t have a best friend, or a phone, write a letter to a future friend that you are believing God for and give them this letter when you meet them. God has great gifts in abundance for you in your life, and good friends are one of them.
6 Comments
KP
5/20/2019 07:26:04 pm
This was very sound advice.
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Hannah K.
5/21/2019 09:39:26 am
Thank you very much!
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Tom Fix
5/21/2019 08:22:56 am
Very good!!! If you don't give in to the world you will be respected for the stance you take for the Lord!
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Hannah K.
5/21/2019 09:40:38 am
Thanks, Tom!! Amen to that! Praise God.
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Hannah K
5/24/2019 01:10:01 pm
Thank you for commenting! :-)
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AuthorHello, I'm Hannah and I'm so glad you're here! I'm a twenty-year-old Jesus-loving writer, National Bible Bee Alumna, and homeschool graduate. Jesus redeemed me, and now I give my life, and this blog, to serve Him. Hebrews 3:13 reminds us to encourage each other daily, lest we be hardened by sin. I hope that reading each blog entry that I post you will be encouraged and challenged to become more like Christ daily. |