Dave’s Monday Blast – January 21, 2019
Last week we chatted a bit about the consequences of compromise. The surrender to temptation, and providing Satan with a foothold in our lives is dangerous. The admonishment from the Lord is to follow His pattern of prevention articulated in Proverbs 2. I trust you spent some time working through the chapter over the week.
Another tool God has provided for us to use to resist compromise is “one another”. There is biblical wisdom to be found in right relationships. We discover this admonition in Hebrews 10:23 -24. The individuals who comprise our circle of “relationship” can be rightly identified by the challenge they keep before us to do more for Him and less for us. Friends that “love” us are not content to let us stay as we are! If they spot a sin in our lives or see something we could be doing differently, they say so.
Paul gave relationships a high priority The apostle surrounded himself with people who could help him achieve two things: 1. Fulfillment of his God-given mission 2. Conformity to Christ-likeness. While Paul was pouring himself into the lives of others, he was being built up and strengthened by his fellow believers. That, in brief, is the Lord’s plan for every one of His children.
What about you brothers? Do you have certain relationships that motivate you to pursue God more fervently? It does matter whom we allow to influence our lives. Charles Stanley comments, “The Father equips your brothers and sisters to invest in you…to encourage you, to pray for you, and to prod you toward a more complete faith so that you are prepared to devote yourself to serving others. Good relationships with people who build each other up can help believers fulfill God’s plan for their lives.” That’s good isn’t it!
The finest relationships are between people who want to see each other succeed in faith and therefore “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). In other words, our best friends are those who love us as we are but never cease to challenge us to be better for the Lord.
