Keeping Good Company
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise:” (Proverbs 13:20a)
Based on this Scripture, we can say, “He that walketh with ____ people shall be ____,” (lazy, honest, upright, profane, etc). Peer pressure, whether good or bad, affects how you think and act.
Negative peer pressure is a problem for kids and adults. It can happen at school, in police work, in politics, and even in church. One way to reduce the temptations of negative peer pressure is to avoid people whom you don’t want to be like. If you do, you may find yourself alone more often, but that’s not necessarily bad. George Washington said, “It is better to be alone than in bad company.”
One great way to develop good character traits is to spend time with people who have them, and no one has character traits more worthy of imitation than Jesus. Being God the Son, Jesus was holy and never sinned in any way. Yet even as a human being, He had nothing but good character traits.
Jesus was not an effeminate sissy. He had been a carpenter, a blue-collar worker, if you will, before His public ministry. He was also kind. He healed sick people, raised dead people, cast out devils, and “…went about doing good,” (Acts 10:38) He was also gutsy. He wasn’t afraid to speak the truth to power. One day certain Pharisees told Him, “Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.” (Luke 13:31) Jesus didn’t let Herod or anyone else bully Him. He didn’t leave.
Most of all, Jesus loved God and loved people. He said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) He loved us enough to endure the agony, brutality and shame of the cross. Isaiah 52:14 says, “…his visage [appearance] was so marred more than any man,” John 18:4 also says, “Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth [to be arrested],” He knew how ugly it would get, and He endured it. For us.
Yet Jesus didn’t stay dead. He rose again on the third day, and is alive today! “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;” (Revelation 1:18)
Wouldn’t it be great to spend time with Jesus and let Him affect our hearts and lives? Well, we can: by reading, memorizing, and meditating on His Word. Getting into the Bible may not seem as meaningful as being physically with Jesus, but it is actually MORE meaningful! Peter had many experiences with Jesus and he said, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy;” (2 Peter 1:19) Scripture is not equally sure with experience, but MORE sure! That is the power of God’s Word.
Temptation is strong nowadays to lack interest in the things of God. When sin abounds in society, which it does today, disinterest toward God is one result. Jesus said, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matthew 24:12) Yet it does not need to happen to you.
Do you lack enthusiasm about the Lord at times? Here is the cure: spend more time with Him in His Word. Read it. Memorize it. Think about it. Meditate on it during your day. Thank the Lord for giving us His Word. The more you do this, the more you literally are “Holding communion with my Lord,” as one hymn says. The more you do this, the more you’ll be like Him because, as Proverbs 13:20a says, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise:”
If you want to see how to receive Jesus as your personal Saviour and have a home in heaven, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links”, then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 3/30/2022
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822