Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

We are absolutely a product of our daily habits. What type of music do you listen to? What movies do you watch? Who are your friends? Do you work hard? There is no denying it. If you hang around people who use bad language, eventually you will use bad language. It will happen, and you probably won’t even realize it. If you listen to music filled with profanity, it will eventually become the way you talk. If you hang around people who are lazy and entitled, over time, you will take on those traits as well. God knew that the people we hang around the most will influence our lives, and that is why it is important to surround yourself with Christian men and women who truly care for you and will be there to help you grow in your faith and not tear you down.

1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character. Come back to your senses as you ought and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.”  God made us for community. The company we keep is very important. Peer pressure is difficult for many people to overcome. But a firm foundation with God at the center gives us the confidence and clarity to choose the right path. Do not stay around a bad group of people for fear of being shamed or for fear of having no friends. Lean on God for understanding and be bold. Do not let others corrupt who God made you to be. Try your best to influence them for Christ, but if they continue in sinful ways, it may be time to remove them from your life as a friend.  

I love verse 58 and the end of 1 Corinthians 15.  “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord…” Stand firm and let nothing move you! Do not let this world influence you away from God! I know that many of us give ourselves fully to our work. And many give ourselves fully to our family or our hobbies. But ask yourself this question.  Do you always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord? If all of us were truly devoted to God’s will and His plan for our lives, we would reach people for Him every day! This world still would not be perfect, but lives would be changed for Christ daily, and we would live with incredible peace regardless of what the day brings.

Prayer: God gives me wisdom in the company that I keep and reveals to me each day, with every decision I make, what my life should look like as I give myself fully to your work.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.