Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Thursday, February 7, 2019

Theme: AVOIDING ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

Text: “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” – 1 Corinthians 15:33

Comment: Some godly youths have through their associations with wicked people, involved themselves in certain shady deals which have landed them in jail. Others have forfeited their educational pursuits, and ended up becoming liabilities to their families and societies. To avoid this danger, a godly youth and indeed a true Christian should choose his or her friends carefully and keep company with those who are God-fearing. (Proverbs 2:10-13; see also 1Thessalonians 5:22)  The Bible says, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” (Proverbs 13:20) A good example of the dangers that lie in following bad company is the case of the Israelites who copied the customs of their neighbours contrary to the warning from God Almighty to wit, “Learn not the way of the heathen…For the customs of the people are vain…” (Jeremiah 10:1-3) When Ahaz became king of Judah he and the people “walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel…” (2 Kings 16:3; 2 Kings 17:8) The Bible further states that “they rejected his statutes…became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them…” (2 Kings 17:15)  Consequently, they became slaves to their enemies. From what the Jews suffered for compromising their faith, we can understand why Solomon the prophet charged us, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” – Proverbs 1:10.

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