Hanging around the right people

We've been talking a lot lately (on Sunday  mornings) about expanding our relational borders to include those who don't know Christ.

 

It is so important that we "go and tell," and not just project, "come and hear."  Both are needed, but our God-given role as followers of Christ is to be "witnesses" (Acts 1:8) for Christ.

 

At the same time, as you and I desire to grow in God, we must hang out with the right people - namely Christians who are either "on fire" for God - or are longing to grow in Him in a deeper way.

 

To put it succinctly, we are who we hang around.

 

We become like those who we spend time with.

 

If you consistently hang out with a gossip - you will become a gossip.

 

If you consistently hang out with a critic - you will become a critic.

 

If you consistently hang out with negative people - you will become negative.

 

Sometimes when I am around gossips or critics or negative people for any length of time - I just want to go home and take a shower.  The "dirt" of their attitudes just lingers.

 

But if you hang out with someone who's desire is to draw closer to the Lord, you will find yourself trying to become more intimate with God.

 

My encouragement to you today?  Find a Christian that  models intimacy with God.

 

Find someone that just walks close to God.  An Enoch so to speak in the faith.

 

Get around them.  Hang out with them.  Spend time with them.

 

To use this analogy:  It is like putting a poker into the fire (in the fireplace).  You put the poker in the fire and it gets warm, even hot.  You place the poker away from the fire in the fireplace and it grows cold.

 

Intimacy with God is more caught than taught.  And if you are around people on fire for God - you will catch that same fervor.  It begins to "rub off on you," in a very positive sense.

 

And before I go - let me add on this thought:  That also includes participating in a forum that encourages growing in God.  Allow yourself to be in a group that aids you in your search to draw closer to God:  A prayer group.  A prayer partner.  A small group. 

 

Just a thought for a Thursday.