A good friend of mine worked for the FBI for many years and when I asked her how they caught criminals, she said something I never forgot:
“If you want to find a criminal, find their friends,
because they are who they associate with.”
The same could be said for our regular lives, but especially as Christians for our life in Christ. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:33 that “Bad company corrupts Good Character” so when we associate with people of an unholy nature, their character can and does rub off on us. The Bible also warns us in James 1:27 “...to keep oneself unspotted from the world” so again we are reminded that it is important to not keep company with people of questionable character.
This does not mean that you cannot be friends with non-Christians. Keep in mind our goal is foremost LOVE of people and seeing them as Christ sees us – as sinners saved by grace. As today’s verse points out, as people of God we are ‘Holy;’ but that does NOT mean uppity or better than anyone else!! The word ‘holy’ means ‘set apart’ as we are set apart for God as His people to do his work and be ambassadors for Christ and need to act and be accordingly.
In your close relationships, choose people of like mind - people that also have the mind of Christ. When you do, godly friends will build you up and make you stronger:
“ As iron sharpens iron;
so a friend sharpens a friend’s character.”
Proverbs 27:17
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