who are you surrounding yourself with?

during my very first Sunday as a youth leader, through conversation, we started talking about the importance of discernment. I was reminded that I had begun this blog but never finished it, so I wanted to discuss it now!

the topic of who we’re surrounding ourselves with isn’t anything new for us. most of us are taught early on to watch who we make friends with. our parents want us to choose the friends who stay out of trouble, make good grades, etc. I firmly believe that who we surround ourselves with will begin to shape our character. if our inner circle is full of unbelievers or people who choose to do things that go against God’s word, we will tend to lean toward that kind of behavior. now, I am NOT saying we don’t make friends with everyone! let your inner circle be filled with those who lift you, help you remain firm in your faith, don’t tempt you with sin, etc!

let’s talk about Luke 5:17-26. this story talks about the importance of who we surround ourselves with. after reading this story, you know it is about a paralyzed man who was healed because of his friend's faith! his friends knew he needed the healing of Jesus and brought him to Jesus! this is the type of people we should be surrounding ourselves with!

we need to hold close to those who push us towards God! while it is important to carry out the Great Commission, let’s not allow our inner circle to be filled with friends who try to tempt us with peer pressure! stay firm in your faith and His word. if you don’t want to participate in something, TELL THEM! if they have a problem with it, then it’s possible they weren’t true friends.

again, I am not saying to walk away from your friends who participated in things that go against His word. if these friends are professing Christians, you must help them see where the wrongs are and steer them back to God. what I am saying is that just because Jesus ate with sinners doesn’t mean He conformed to their habits. He left those people born again! He was the light!

and so I ask you, who are you surrounding yourself with?

“One day, Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Luke 5:17-26