How Friendships Matter In Our Pursuit of Holiness

In the Richey "unauthorized" version of the
dictionary, the word "blessed" means "to be
happy", "to be content", "to be satisfied", "to
be fulfilled", "to be favored by God"!!
WANT TO BE BLESSED?
Here are some hints or suggestions to becoming
all of the above-mentioned, and possibly more:
Psalm 1 begins "Blessed is the man (person) who
walks NOT in the counsel of the UNGODLY....".
(Capitals mine, but necessary to make the points.)
If you want to be happy, feel favored by God, and
live in His blessing, you must be careful who your
associates or friends are!
Just as the Bible teaches that the saved person is
not to be united with the unsaved, we must choose
our business partners, friends, and even our
church carefully. Being around sinful people who
are negative, condemnatory, selfish, and gossip-
mongers has a tendency to involve you in the
same type of attitudes and behaviors!!
THAT SAME VERSE GOES ON TO SAY.....
"nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the
seat of the scornful.....".
WE ARE KNOWN BY THE COMPANY WE KEEP!!
Fellow-traveler, Sister-pilgrim, Brother-Christian,
you need to surround yourself with moral, right-
thinking individuals who will uplift Jesus Christ,
and who will help to keep your spirit and attitude
lifted high!!
AVOID MEAN PEOPLE! AVOID TALEBEARERS!
AVOID GOSSIPS! AVOID THOSE WHO SEEK
REVENGE! AVOID NON-CHRISTIANS WHO MAY
ONLY BRING YOU DOWN!!
If you're at all concerned or interested in having your
life and testimony count for souls and for eternity,
you must be known for keeping quality company!
I'm not saying not to speak to or have any inter-
action with non-believers, for it's virtually impossible
to do so totally, but we don't have to involve our-
selves in relationships that bring us down instead
of lifting us up!
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GODLY FRIENDS!
ASSOCIATE WITH BELIEVERS! TALK AND
INTERACT DAILY WITH FELLOW CHRISTIANS!
MAKE YOUR SPEECH POSITIVE AND BUILDING
UP! HONOR GOD WITH YOUR AFFILIATIONS!!
Yes, indeed, we want to witness to the lost souls
around us, and we want our lives to speak of the
grace and love of God, but we must know when and
where to draw the line, and the Holy Spirit will
let us know - we must simply rely on Him to do so!!
THIS WILL NOT ALWAYS BE EASY, to break
off friendships or relationships that are defeating
God's purpose, but if you PRAY and ask God how
to handle each person and each situation, He will
give you just the right attitude and words to let
people know why you cannot continue to be in
an improper (unholy) alliance with them. Be kind,
be gentle, be sincere, and most of all BE LOVING,
and let them know just why you must withdraw
from them a space and time - TO PURSUE GOD'S
WILL IN YOUR LIFE, AND TO HOPE THAT
THEY WILL HONOR THAT AND SEEK THE
SAME FOR THEIR LIVES!!
Again, this is not easy, but I'M PRAYING FOR YOU!!