Imagine a bowl of yummy fruit on your counter. But right on top is an old, rotten banana. If you leave that banana there for a day or two, do you know what would happen to the other fruit? It would all start to rot and become yucky, too! One rotten banana (or apple, or peach, or orange) can ruin an entire bowl of fruit.
That's what Paul means in 1 Corinthians when he says, “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Heart:
Have you ever thought about how much the friends you spend time with influence you? Paul tells us in the scripture above that surrounding ourselves with bad company, or friends, will make it harder for us to do what is right. He is warning us that if our friends are always making bad choices or lying and being mean, we may start to be like them, even if we don’t want to be.
But good friends can help us make good choices, too. When you choose friends who love Jesus, are kind, and encouraging, they help you want to do what is right.
Hands:
Think about the people that you spend the most time with. Are these people helping you be your best self, or making it harder?
Pray today for godly friends to be present in your daily life.
Prayer:
Dear God, help me choose friends who help me grow closer to You. Please show me when someone is leading me in the wrong direction and help me to be a godly friend to the people in my life. We love You. Amen.