Who has the greatest influence on your walk with God?
The people we spend the most time with inevitably shape our attitudes, priorities, and even our relationship with Christ. Some friendships quietly pull us away from God. Others encourage us, challenge us, and help us become more like Him.
Which kind do you have?
Today’s reading in Proverbs paints a beautiful picture of what a truly godly friend looks like—someone with purity of heart and grace-filled lips. Those kinds of friendships are rare… but they are among God’s greatest gifts.
We’ll also discover one of the most comforting truths in all of Scripture from Romans 5: not only are we saved by grace, but we are also kept by grace. That is why we need to remind ourselves of the gospel every single day.
It didn’t take long. Less than 70 years into church history and there were already those who wanted to water down the Word of God and the call to personal holiness. And others who wanted to add things to the requirements for salvation and Christian living. Nothing much has changed. There are still those who distort the gospel truths. Instead, we’re to teach and understand the whole counsel of God. In 25 verses Jude’s epistle called believers to contend for the truth. It still does today.
Sadly, many still prefer to teach only the easy-to-swallow parts … those things that don’t make anyone uncomfortable or the Christian life seem too hard and others who claim that something else is necessary.
How about you? Are you contending for the truth and seeking to understand the whole counsel of God? And why is doing so as important as ever?
Like everyone else in this fallen world, believers suffer from physical sickness and discouragement. What should we do during those times? James offers us some encouragement.
