1 Corinthians 15:33-Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
Deceived- planaó in the greek. To cause to wander, to go astray, to get off course, to deviate from the correct path or to be misled.
Be careful of the company you keep. In other words, be aware of deception and deceivers for they are everywhere. There is no place where they do not exist on earth, including the church, homes, families, marriages, workplaces, relationships, on the golf course, in friendships, in the classes at school, in the neighborhood and on. Deceivers are planted everywhere.
Who are your friends? Who do you clique with on a daily basis? What are they adding to your life? Or, should I say, "what are they taking away from your life?" Is your relationship with them profitable to your soul and your future?
Everyone that befriends you or confess to be your friend is not necessarily coming to you or hanging with you for the right reason. Their motives can be deception and self gain.
Of course, there are some good and true friendships everywhere too. How we know if they are good and true is if they added to the relationship and not take away from it. Does our friendship makes me better or bitter?
Believe it or not, the master of craftiness and deceit name "satan" who is the accuser of the brethern and the father of lies sends his workers into the world to not only deceive but to cause division and bring about offenses to those who are not able to see him because they refuse to put on their spiritual eyes that God made available to them through prayer and daily study of His Word.
I have learned in my short years of life that "misery loves company." Hurt people always hurt others because they refuse to find their much needed healing in prayer and the Word of God. They do not see God's Word as their source of comfort and healing because they see self.
Deceivers are very miserable people who set out to attack and destroy anyone that refuses to go along with their hidden plots of deception.
If the people you are daily partnering with and calling friends operate in behaviors and character that is opposite to God's Word, you need to flee them for the Apostle Paul says this concerning them in Romans 16:17-these people do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own appetites, and through smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
People of God, we must be watchful and alert at all times. We are warned in 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober and watchful, because your adversary the devil walks around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Ephesians 6:10-17 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Avoid people that causes division and offenses that are contrary to God's Word. WHY? They may cause you to loose your "SOUL." That part of us that will live forever that will either live in eternity with God or in hell separated from God.
The company we keep says a lot about who we are! You can talk all day long about who you are and what you believe, but your behavior and your circle of friends begs to differ.
We are warned in Proverbs 4:23-Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
If you confess to know Christ and to be in a personal relationship with Him, there is no way I can be convinced that you could partner with deceivers and evil doers that bring about division which separates people and not bring them together.
People of God, be very careful of the company you keep. All shining is not gold. There are indeed wolves in the world who try to appear as sheeps.
If there ever was a time that the wisdom of God is needed with urgency, that time is NOW. Deceit and craftiness is operating at a level higher than ever before.
People of God, keep your eyes, ears, mind and heart open to what the "Spirit" is saying to the church (people of God) in this hour in which we live.
Be very careful of the company you keep for "deception" comes with a price that pays wages that is of no value to us now nor in eternity.
As Paul warned the church at Corinth, I warn you all on today to be very careful of the company you keep for indeed bad company corrupts good behavior. We see it on a daily basis!
Who are your friends? HUMMMMM
God bless.
Debra