Keeping the Right Company

April 23

(Acts 9:19b NIV) “Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.”

(1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV) ““Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character.””

(2 Corinthians 6:14-17 NIV) ““Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? {15} What harmony is there between Christ and Belial ? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? {16} What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." {17} "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.””

Saul started off on the right foot in his new Christian life -- he started hanging around with the disciples. The company we keep has an impact on our life. We are influenced by those with whom we choose to associate. One term for this is fellowship. Fellowship is about more than just having fun with Christian friends -- it’s about getting close enough to absorb some of Christ’s character from those who have walked with Jesus longer than we have. Saul learned about faith, love, hope, mercy, and perseverance from the disciples. His life was enriched by his time with them. Hanging around with mature disciples is important to our spiritual growth. The biblical model of discipleship is not just learning stuff from our teachers, but becoming like them. We become like those we hang around with. Saul chose to hang around with genuine disciples of Jesus. We should do the same. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day