Let me start by wishing each and every one of you a blessed 2023! I hope and pray you know God’s abundant blessing in your lives. This may seem an unusual subject to start the year- but I believe it’s a very important one. The company we keep. Does it really matter? Absolutely!
1 Corinthians 15v33: “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
Let’s consider a few biblical examples. Let’s start with a bad one - King Herod’s birthday party.
Matthew 14v6-9:
But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.
And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her
Herodius was bad company! She cost John the Baptist his head! She caused her own daughter to sin, and she caused Herod to be sorry! Bad company really matters folks!
Proverbs 14v7: “Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.”
Watch the company and watch the chat as you start this New Year. Resolve to do that and watch your life change for the better. Happily, good company also affects us too. Consider the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. Each strengthened the other when moral character was being tested to its limit.
Daniel 3v17&18:
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up
Surround yourself with people with morals, standards and Christian character friends. Also with people of faith: Mark 2v3-5:
And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee
Here Jesus took note of the friend’s faith- the result was a conversion and a healing! We could all do with friends like these ones, better still let’s be such friends to others in need. Yet the best company was Jesus Himself, the friend of sinners. Cry out and draw close and I guarantee you a blessed 2023.
Love and blessings- Pastor John and all at GCF.