Choose wisely!

Good morning to all of Gods family, Take a look at your close relationships, your friends & family; do they push you in good directions? or entice you to think, act, and speak in ways that dishonor God? One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. If we lie down with dogs, we will get up with fleas.

Proverbs 27:17 KJV

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Proverbs 27:21-22 MSG

The purity of silver and gold is tested by putting them in the fire; The purity of human hearts is tested by giving them a little fame. [22] Pound on a fool all you like—you can’t pound out foolishness.

1 Timothy 4:12 KJV

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

If you spend a lot of time hanging around those who don’t believe in Jesus or who ridicule people of faith, they may influence you to doubt your own faith. You may also find yourself becoming more comfortable with some of their sinful habits.

1 Corinthians 15:33 KJV

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

2 Timothy 2:22 KJV

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Proverbs 10:20-21 KJV

The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. [21] The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

Proverbs 17:27-28 KJV

He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. [28] Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Yes, Jesus ate with sinners; but

risk taking activities for the sake of the gospel are done in vain if not anointed by God.

Psalm 1:1 KJV

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Romans 13:11-14 KJV

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. [12] The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. [13] Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. [14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

While God is not affected by what we think of him, we are definitely and eternally affected by what God thinks of us.

Job 21:14-15 KJV

Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. [15] What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

Job 35:3 KJV

For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

How easy it is to envy those who get ahead unhampered by conscience or moral responsibility. For a time they do seem to prosper even though they disregard what God wants, but they have no real future.

Psalm 73:1-28 TLB

How good God is to Israel-to those whose hearts are pure. [2] But as for me, I came so close to the edge of the cliff! My feet were slipping and I was almost gone. [3] For I was envious of the prosperity of the proud and wicked. [4] Yes, all through life their road is smooth! They grow sleek and fat. [5] They aren't always in trouble and plagued with problems like everyone else, [6] so their pride sparkles like a jeweled necklace, and their clothing is woven of cruelty! [7] These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! [8] They scoff at God and threaten his people. How proudly they speak! [9] They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut through the earth. [10] And so God's people are dismayed and confused and drink it all in. [11] "Does God realize what is going on?" they ask. [12] "Look at these men of arrogance; they never have to lift a finger-theirs is a life of ease; and all the time their riches multiply." [13] Have I been wasting my time? Why take the trouble to be pure? [14] All I get out of it is trouble and woe-every day and all day long! [15] If I had really said that, I would have been a traitor to your people. [16] Yet it is so hard to explain it-this prosperity of those who hate the Lord. [17] Then one day I went into God's sanctuary to meditate and thought about the future of these evil men. [18] What a slippery path they are on-suddenly God will send them sliding over the edge of the cliff and down to their destruction: [19] an instant end to all their happiness, an eternity of terror. [20] Their present life is only a dream! They will awaken to the truth as one awakens from a dream of things that never really were! [21] When I saw this, what turmoil filled my heart! [22] I saw myself so stupid and so ignorant; I must seem like an animal to you, O God. [23] But even so, you love me! You are holding my right hand! [24] You will keep on guiding me all my life with your wisdom and counsel, and afterwards receive me into the glories of heaven! [25] Whom have I in heaven but you? And I desire no one on earth as much as you! [26] My health fails; my spirits droop, yet God remains! He is the strength of my heart; he is mine forever! [27] But those refusing to worship God will perish, for he destroys those serving other gods. [28] But as for me, I get as close to him as I can! I have chosen him, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful ways he rescues me.

Proverbs 23:17-18,20-21 KJV

Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. [18] For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. [20] Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: [21] For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Psalm 1:6 KJV

For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Gods view of success is not based on outward appearance or performance; however, it is based on a person’s heart.