Choose Your Friends Wisely

Some of the brattiest words I ever said to my mother left my mouth. My mom gave me the look and sternly shot back, “You're never going over to Jacob’s house again!” I sat in stunned silence as she continued, “Every time you go to his house you start acting just like him.” As I replayed in my mind what I had just said, I knew she was right.
 
Jacob was a bratty kid with anger issues. On more than one occasion I witnessed his gnarly behavior. He would often scream, punch, scratch, bite, or even kick his mother. When he did these things, I was embarrassed for him. I was repulsed by the way he acted. And yet, to a lesser degree, I began to take on some of his tendencies. It was not pretty.
 
My parents knew what all parents quickly learn: Your children behave like the kids they're around. That's why it is such a gift of God for them to be friends with a well-behaved child. Your child comes home better behaved purely through osmosis.
 
While this behavior reflection is obvious to us for children, adults deal with it just as much. Just like we didn’t notice when we were kids, we rarely realize it as adults. The people we have as friends influence so many things about us. Even as adults, our friends can influence our thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs. Which is why it’s important to have godly friends.
 
Tomorrow I will help us see the importance of being choosy about our deepest friendships. I can’t wait to reveal the final three parts of gospel friendship. I look forward to seeing you in worship tomorrow!