Sunday, January 12th

Question Girls:  What does it say about your testimony for Christ if people who are running from God are comfortable around you?  

There are normally two trains of thought on Biblical separation.  One is that you must be so separated, so holy that you'd not think of lowering yourself to spend time with someone wicked.  The other thought is that you must not be separated at all because in order to win the world, you must be like the world.  Which of these convictions is right?  Based on Scripture, neither.  

We are not to 'fellowship' with this world or those that insist on living worldly.  By fellowship I mean spending our leisure time, hanging out, or relaxing.  Those things are to be done with those who share the same values or convictions.  "Why is that, Mrs. Kim?"  Simple.  You will only be as spiritual as your mentor.  So, if your closest confidants are those who don't give a hoot about God or His ways, how long do you think you'll care about Godly things?  My mama said it like this, "Lay down with the dogs, you'll get up with fleas."  Scripture says this,

"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."  Proverbs 27:17

There are times that you will have to draw an invisible line in the sand.  You'll have friends that are going one way, and you'll have to decide whether to go their direction or God's.  When you do, you will be called names; you will be ridiculed.  

On the other hand, to convince yourself that your worldly lifestyle is "ministering" to others because it helps them feel "comfortable" is deceptive.

Quick question:  Are those who live contrary to God comfortable around you?  If they do not feel some sort of rebuke, not so much by your words as by your testimony, then you must question whether your life is actually reflecting Christ.  The Lord Jesus, by His very presence, brought conviction.  What does your presence bring?  

Scripture Reading for the Day:

Proverbs 12
II Timothy 4