Have you ever heard the old saying? "Tell me who your friends
are, and I will tell you who you are?"

Chances are you probably have heard this before! But unlike most
sayings this one has so much truth to it! You know, for most of us, rarely do we ever think about the people who influence us!! The "affect" they have on, and in our lives!

This is especially true in our faith! When we associate with other
believers it helps us to be more "Christ-like" and "Christ-minded". When we do not, it has the opposite affect! Does it not? But usually most Christians do not give this much of a thought! And how sad!!

You see who we associate with can have an affect on our beliefs and behavior! When you have a group that "lifts Christ up", you will have a group that will "lift you up" also. When you have those who have a disdain for Christ and His people, you will have a group that eventually, "will bring you down".

The Bible puts it this way:

"Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits".

                                    (1 Corinthians 15:33 NKJV)
                                   
The company we keep can bring us down, or lift us up!

Think of all those who are strong in the Lord, and those who have
fallen away!!

What is the common characteristic of both of these groups? That which has an "interesting" contrast? They both are influenced by those they associate with! Those that are strong in Christ have friends who are also strong believers. Those that have fallen away have friends who are not in Christ, or who have fallen away themselves.

You see, what many do not understand is that words are powerful:
 
   "Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
      And those who love it will eat its fruit."

 

                                      (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV) 

Words do have an influence on us! Just as God's word can build our
faith (Rom. 10:17), and those of His followers (to encoruage us), so can words of doubt and despair harm us:

 

 "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
      But perverseness in it breaks the spirit." 

 

                                     (Proverbs 15:4 NKJV)
  
Now, there is nothing wrong with associating with unbelievers and
loving them in Christ, with the hope that they will come to know Him. But, we should never become like the world we left behind, just to please others (i.e. their "expectations" of us)!
  
The question for all of us is this, who are our friends? Those that have influence in our lives? Are they the ones that help encourage us in our faith and walk in Christ? Or are they ones who drive us further from Him (cause us to doubt our faith and do things we know to be wrong, isolating ourselves from Him)?
  
You see, the old saying, "Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are", is true! 

 

So today, ask yourself this, "who are my friends?"