Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Friends and Associates”
Our Bible verse for today: “Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “We become like those we associate with.”
It’s just a basic truth of human nature that over time we become like those we associate with. If you hang around with bank robbers, soon you will probably be robbing banks as well. If your friends are all drug users, it won’t be long before you’re an addict. If everyone in your circle of influence uses bad language, profanity will become a regular part of your vocabulary too.
It works the other way as well. If you start spending time with people who are health conscious, people who have a regular exercise routine and who watch what they eat and who talk about it a lot, you will probably be drawn into that world of physical activity and good nutrition too. Likewise, if your circle of friends and associates are all Christians who love the Lord, speak about Him frequently, and are actively involved in the life of a good church, that will probably describe your life also.
We become like those we associate with.
As I write this it is December 1st. In thirty-one days we will turn the page into a new year. This is typically the time of year when people begin thinking about making needed changes in their lives and establishing new routines, dropping bad habits and adopting better ones. For many of those people their resolutions won’t last. They’ll begin on January 1st with enthusiasm and eagerness but for many of them, that enthusiasm will soon wane and the needed changes won’t materialize.
This is where friends and associates become so important. Remember, we become like those we associate with. So if there are changes you need to make in your own life, find people who already have the kind of life you want and begin spending time with them.
As I think back over my own life I realize how blessed I’ve been by the people God has placed around me. Not all of them. Some of them have been more of a challenge than a blessing. But consistently through the years God has brought people into my life that I admired and looked up to and wanted to be more like. Most of what’s good about me is something I first saw in someone else and I then decided I wanted that quality in my life too. Good Friends and associates have that effect on us.
All this month we will explore what the Bible has to teach about the importance of friends and associates. I think you might be surprised at what a dominant theme this is in Scripture. I look forward to learning and growing and becoming better with you.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 