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Have you ever been deceived by this?

The word deceive means: “to ensnare or trap, to be false to fail to fulfill, to cheat.” Wow, that’s a handful. I hear many young people disregard their parents’ concerns about their friends. The parents say: “I don’t want you hanging around those kids. they are going to get you into trouble.” Their children respond: “Don’t worry, I know what I am doing. I won’t let them change me, and I won’t do what they do.” However,  1 Corinthians 15:33 (AMPC)  says: “Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character. Our friends and associates will affect us one way or another. In Matthew 4:19, the Lord Jesus told the disciples: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 2 Corinthians 6:17 says: “Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.” You can clearly see that according to God’s wisdom, we can be more easily deceived than we realize. Therefore, wisdom dictates that we be very careful and discerning of who we associate with and who we choose as friends. If you associate with gossipers and complainers, that is the impartation you will receive from them. If we associate with godly visionaries and people who love God and His word, they will draw us closer to God and His plans for us. It’s Spring time, so it’s time to do some Spring-cleaning. If your associations are corrupting your good manners and morals, it’s time to get rid of them and find those that will help you in your relationship with God. Selah!

1 Corinthians 15:33 (AMPC) “Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.”

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Has anybody warned you about this?

The Apostle reminds us that it is our responsibility to encourage and warn each other every day to stay faithful to God and His word. We are to watch over each other with godly fear.  The world is selfish and mostly thinks about themselves. The Lord Jesus taught us that we are to wash each other’s feet, pray for one another, forgive one another, minister to one another, love one another, encourage one another and serve one another. In short, you and I have a very important responsibility in making sure that we all make it in, together! Remember, this is very important to God, and He made sure that it was recorded in the scriptures. The Lord Jesus also modeled this, both when He washed the disciple’s feet, and when He died on the cross for all of humanity. Are you watching over your church family in prayer and supplication, or are you “too busy” for all that stuff”?  Ponder on that today.

Hebrews 3:13 (NLT) “You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.”