Choose Your Running Partners Well

CHOOSE YOUR RUNNING PARTNERS WELL

Here is an excerpt from the sermon "Standing Firm in the Lord–Part 2":

But remember this: many people are not following Jesus – and we do not want their negative example to undermine our spiritual walk. Therefore we must take care and exercise discernment. We must be uncompromising when it comes to discerning whether or not another person is heading in the right direction, so that we know whether or not to let them be a pace-setter for our spiritual walk or to let them be our ‘spiritual running partner’. If they are truly living in and for Jesus, welcome their life as a pattern to follow. But if they are not following Jesus, then you must not follow them – even if they profess to be a Christian, even if they are a fellow churchgoer, even if they have a media platform within the Christian world.

Let this truth sink in: “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Proverbs 13:20) Walk with the friends of the cross, and do not be a companion of the “enemies of the cross”. Parents, lead your children to walk with those who truly love Christ, and protect them from Christ’s enemies who will do them harm. Children, the Bible says that you are a precious gift (Psalm 127:3) and the Bible also says that foolishness is bound up in your heart (Proverbs 22:15): therefore I urge you to forsake the fellowship of fools and choose the company of Christ’s no-nonsense disciples, that you might become wise beyond your years and useful to the Lord, “ready for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21).