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Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Who are you hanging with? Have you ever had had your parents talk with you and question who you are hanging around with? From the beginning of time parents have had conversations with their kids about the importance of choosing their friends carefully. I'm sure you have heard the saying: "show me your friends and I'll show you your future". As a youth pastor I find that I have used this statement more times than I thought I would, either in a message or in counseling sessions with students. Funny thing is, as much as we hate to admit it, sometimes our parents are wise and can foresee the future. Perhaps we should listen. I am reminded of the story in the Bible of King Jehoshaphat, he was one of the kings of the Israelites, God's chosen people, the seventh king over the tribe of Judah. He was considered a good king, unlike many before and after him. The Bible tells us that for the most part he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. God was with him because he was wise and learned from his ancestor King David. He wanted very much to obey God and he was careful in not angering God like so many other kings of his time who looked to false gods for help. All in all, Jehoshaphat was a good guy, a good king and a godly man. He did, however, make a critical mistake that almost cost him his life. He hung around and befriended evil people. While visiting another king of Israel, he was talked into helping him fight a war. Jehoshaphat wanted to do what was right before the Lord, but he also wanted to help his friend, he was torn. In an effort to figure out what he should do, the Bible tells us he advised the evil king to ask for advice from other righteous men. After doing this and being warned to not go to war, he still chose to help his friend and follow him into battle. Why is it that despite the check in our gut and the advice from wise Christians, we still sometimes chose to do wrong. To make a long story short, Jehoshaphat was almost killed during battle, his friend - the other king was wounded and killed and he had to return home, embarrassed with his tail between his legs. The prophet came to meet him and asked him; "what were you thinking, why in the world did you go and help evil people?" Imagine how Jehoshaphat must have felt. I mean, he barely escaped with his life and now he is being confronted about his event before he even had thechance to go home, sit down and take a load off. What terrible timing. Then the prophet goes on to ask a rhetorical question that questions his morals and values; "why do you love those who hate the Lord? That's why God is angry with you now." What?! I'm sure Jehoshaphat must have thought to himself, "why is he all up in my grill like this, I was just helping out a friend in need." What about you? Do you love those who hate the Lord? Are you hanging out with people who are not walking the way they should walk, who are not living the way they should live, who don't do the things they should do? Do you love those who hate the Lord by the way they live their life? Think about it. Word... Pasta' Alex posted by Pasta' Alex # 10:26 AM   Comments: Post a Comment Links to this post: Create a Link << Home |
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