Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – 1 Corinthians 15:33 – Bad Company – Growing As Disciples
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)
Your Company
Who are you allowing into your inner circle? Who have become your intimate friends? Who is speaking into your life? Who is giving you wise counsel? How are you becoming like those who are around you? Is there a reason that you are asking me these questions? I don’t want you to make huge mistakes. I don’t want you to become mislead. How so? You might think that you will be unchanged and untouched by people that surround your life. That would be incorrect. That would be a huge mistake. You will become like those people that you allow into your inner circle. Really? Yes, really.
Will you be happy if you become like your intimate friends? Are your intimate friends setting an example for you to follow? Do those in your inner circle want to love me with all their heart and mind and soul and strength? Do your close friends want to go where I guide them to do what I ask of them? Are you being lifted up, encouraged and spurred on in your faith by the people that surround you? Those are good questions. Those are tough questions. I certainly want to be that kind of friend to all those who are around me. I want to be an example that others can follow. I would like others to be able to imitate my life as I love and follow and serve you. That will be very good. I want to lift up, encourage and spur others on in their faith. If I haven’t done that, then I have accomplished nothing. If I haven’t done that then I have not been fulfilling your purposes and accomplishing your plans. That’s true.
Make no mistake about it, you will become like those who surround you. Don’t let others cause you to think and speak and acts in ways that are not pleasing to me. Don’t be led by others to go where you should not have gone. Do not be led by other to do what you should not have done. Keep this thought in you, bad company will corrupt good character. Just the opposite is also true, good company will build good character. Who do you want in your company? I want people that are fully devoted to you in my company. I want people that hunger and thirst for righteousness in my company. I want people who know and love you in my company. I want people who are following and serving you in my company. I want people who are trying to live a life that is fully pleasing to you in my company. These people will help you to know and do my will. These people will help you to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Keep these people close to you. Yes Lord, I will.
Lord, I know that I am surrounded by darkness. I know that this world is filled with evil of every kind. I know you don’t want me to sit, stand or walk with the evil in this world. Help me to distance myself from bad company that will seek to corrupt my character. Amen
For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:
Wisdom – 1 Corinthians 15-33 – Bad Company – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide
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