“I went over to Junction City the other day to visit my pastor friend,” Stan commented one morning during breakfast.
“How’s he doing?”
“It seems like everything is going well for him, his family, and the church,” Stan replied, “but what I want to talk about is what I saw when I drove into the church parking lot.”
“What’s that?”
“The sign that indicated the title of next Sunday’s message. I asked my friend about it. What we talked about is what I would like to pass on to you this morning.”
“What’s the title for the pastor’s message?”
“Birds of a feather.”
“Birds of a feather? You mean the first part of the old saying that ends with ‘flock together’?”
“You got it right,” Stan replied with a smile.
“What’s he going to talk about? How the church is a flock that’s supposed to be together?”
“Not so much that,” Stan said, “but more the importance of being careful about our companions. Who do we hang out with and where are we hanging out.”
“Oh,” I replied, “like who we are companions with might make a difference in how closely we walk with the Lord?”
“Right again,” Stan agreed, “but I think it’s more than ‘might make a difference’. Based on some bad choices I’ve made, I can say it definitely makes a difference. It’s a whole lot easier to want to develop a closer relationship with God when a person hangs out with people who want and are pursuing such a closer relationship.”
“Versus hanging out with people who want an ever-closer relationship with the world and what the world has to offer? Is that it?”
“That’s it. It’s always good to consider who I choose for companions.”
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Bible verses to consider:
I am a companion of all those who fear Thee, and of those who keep Thy precepts. Psalm 119:63.
Do not be deceived; “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33.
Do not be bound together with unbelievers; . . . . 2 Corinthians 6:14.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus as the way to be part of the flock who have life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while you keep me on this side of eternity I’m not as careful as I should be about my companions and the influence they have on my walk with you. Please forgive that foolish way of living the new life you’ve given. Help me follow every step of your lead so, like the Psalmist, I am a companion of those who fear you and those who keep your precepts. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Are you part of the flock in the sense that you’ve accepted God’s free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with the companions you choose? Do they help you draw closer to God, or do they help you draw closer to the world? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does God know you need in order to have the kind of companions that will encourage you to draw closer to Him in an ever-deepening relationship? Spend time with this in prayer, reflection, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to being part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?
❤️