Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Relationships matter. They are important. God made us to be relational. He wants to have a relationship with us, and He wants us to have intentional, important relationships here on Earth. But sometimes that can become complicated. The company we keep reflects who we are.

One of the phrases so many believers and non-believers love to use is that ‘you shouldn’t judge others’, or ‘God says not to judge!’ While it's true we are not the judge of anyone, at times that can be taken out of context.

Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

It’s impossible to be a good friend and truly care for someone if you will not tell them when they are in the wrong. You should not approach them with a “got you” mentality or from a place of I’m better than you. You are simply trying to help someone improve. We all need this in our life. And if you are surrounded by people who never try to help you improve, that can eventually lead to problems.

Although we are obviously called to minister to unchurched people who do not know Christ, we also must be careful not to surround ourselves with people who are having a negative impact on us. Breaking away from poor relationships can be difficult and many times we are slow to recognize it. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians that we must separate ourselves from people who are not living as Christ would have us. 2 Corinthians 6:14 says “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? Verse 16 finishes with, “We are the temple of the living God.”

Part of our role as Christians is to reach lost people and teach them to know, love, and follow Jesus. But if we have friends who are impacting us negatively and leading us away from God’s plan, we must end those relationships. It can be a difficult thing to do, but it’s necessary. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world”. Living a life for Christ will look different from what is perceived as normal in this world. Anything that influences us to separate from God’s plan needs to be taken away.

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Prayer: God, we are thankful for the Godly friendships You have provided. Give us wisdom to reach people for Your Glory and to know the relationships we need to walk away from. 

Family Devos: 2 Corinthians 6  

Head: the knowledge of God and His Word | Heart: the personal connection from scripture | Hands: a missional mindset 

Head

Paul begins by saying that he and Timothy have not been a stumbling block in anyone’s path so that their ministry will not be discredited. Think about this. Have you ever done something that would make it seem that being a believer is not a good thing? If so, apologize to God and ask Him to help you be a better example for other people.  Has there been a time that others could see Christ in you? If so, thank God for giving you that opportunity.  

Heart

One thing that can be a stumbling block for others is if they see us put something before God. Paul warns the Corinthians about idolatry. He gave them examples of things they should avoid. Idolatry is the worship of someone or something besides God. This is a really important warning. There should never be anything that replaces God. Believers should remember that we are the temple of the living God. God said that He will be our God and we will be His people. What a wonderful promise that is! Is there anything that you “worship” besides our God? Ask your family to pray with you so you can trust God instead.  If we give our life to follow Jesus, God will be a Father to us, and we will be His sons and daughters. What a promise!   

Hands

Prayer:  God, thank You for the grace You show us! These teachings guide us to make decisions that will please You. Help us to take these words as a guide for how we should live our lives. Thank You for our family. Help us to encourage and support each other in our journey. In Jesus’ name, Amen.