Introductory Thoughts
Good friends are a tremendous blessing to be nurtured and treasured. Yet, friendships are to have certain God-ordained limitations. The wrong kinds of friends and inappropriate associations have led many people away from the truth and astray from God. The Bible provides detailed instructions to help people avoid any relationship that tends to lead to rebellion against God. Although these instructions were explicitly given while Israel remained under the Law of God, they forever reveal God's feelings toward those who would lead someone away from Him. Just as it was instructed of the Israelites, men today should never consent nor hearken to those who seek to lure them astray (Deuteronomy 13:8). In refusing to listen to those individuals, a believer should never feel guilt or pity the so-called friend, but rather find joy from making the right decision.
Devotional Thoughts
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A friend asks you to go to the mountains for a picnic on Sunday morning with him and his family. God wants us to set aside that day to go to church to praise Him and learn of Him. What will you choose? A true friend will want you to obey God first.
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(For everyone): How do you choose your friends? What kind of traits do you look for in a friend? Do you merely look for common interests, or are there other things for which you look?
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What should you do if a friend asked you to do something that you know would displease the Lord? Should you continue to spend time around this person?
Prayer Thoughts
- Ask God for wisdom and discernment when choosing friends.
- Ask the Lord to give you friends who sincerely love Him.
Song
CLOSE TO THEE
