Reading With the People of God #14 Proverbsنموونە

The Company We Keep

I have to ask myself more often than not, ‘Who & What has access to my ear?’. My family of origin? Podcasts & sermons? Friends? Who has their ear? Are the people I surround myself with teachable and humble, or do they know everything already? Furthermore, have I asked God if these people are part of His plan to strengthen my bond with Him, or have they been sent to distract from it? I want God to pick my friends and counsel for me.

If you watch and listen, people will show you exactly who they are by what comes from their mouth and their actions. I am not suggesting that we have a critical eye and a graceless heart searching for others' mistakes to judge. BUT, we are to be wise and seek counsel from those who are also seeking wisdom from above. I've discovered just how crucial it is to have an honest self-evaluation. Part of self-evaluation is evaluating the company we keep. How do we do this? By what standard or measure are we to determine this evaluation? What's the actual goal of digging into ‘self’ and the influences we submit to?

It is to grow into the version of ourselves that was originally called forth and created by our Heavenly Father. The standard and measure is His Word. His Word challenges us to view ourselves, our hearts, and what drives us by the standard of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. By the standard, He gifted us all when He chose to come down to us and live a human life. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is our standard.

Jesus imparts life. Without the cutting away of the old, dead us, the worldly part, we will never be in a position to receive this Gospel Truth; Jesus IS Life. As He transforms us and pulls the weeds of the world from our hearts, changing them from stone to flesh, we must be diligent in making the choice to aid in this transformation by not immediately filling the vacant space with more weed seeds. Weed seeds are anything not of Jesus. Allowing Him to impart His wisdom and learn patience in His perfect timing will ensure we have ears to hear Him through His Word and the mouths of others.

*Primer contributed by Ardena Hamill, Celebrate Recovery encourager at Cornerstone Community Church of Chowchilla.