2 Corinthians 6:14  ‘Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness, and what  communion hath light with darkness?

DAILY READING    •      Romans 13; 1 Samuel 25; Psalm 68

Throughout his administration, American president, Abraham Lincoln was under fire, especially during the scarring years of the Civil War. And though he knew he would make errors of office, he resolved never to compromise his integrity. So strong was this resolve that he once said, “I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me.”

Living as a Christian can sometimes be a lonely walk.  To live right and do what is right you will have to be careful the company you keep. The issue of keeping the right company becomes even more challenging when we live in a world where we constantly have dealings with unbelievers. As Christians, we are not called to huddle away from the world, because we are bound to have dealings with unbelievers. As long as we are in the world we are going to be meeting and relating with unbelievers at one level or the other, either as colleagues, clients, customers, relatives etc.

Often times this association, if unmonitored can become a trap the enemy uses to plot a believer’s downfall. Some believers have fallen because they were ignorant of the devil’s devices. Oftentimes we have lamented over politicians who started well as Christians, only to later backslide through continual association with unbelievers.

In as much as we do not want to be seen as bigoted, at the same time we have to be very careful in forming relationships with people outside the faith. Friendship with an unbeliever can adversely affect even strong believers, if that friendship is not prayerfully monitored. Paul tells us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. If you take delight in the company of someone with worldly morals, you run the risk of being influenced by their behaviors, language, and habits. It’s a matter of time. And peer pressure is not exclusive to youths. A woman was interviewed by reporters on her 102nd birthday. When asked about the benefits of living past the century mark, she answered, “No peer pressure!”

The challenge is how we can balance being more like Lord Jesus by relating with sinners, and yet not be influenced by them. Jesus kept company with publicans and sinners, He influenced them, they didn’t influence Him. This means that we are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, the serpent is said to be the most subtle of all animals, and it was through its subtlety that Eve was  deceived. This means you should be able to second guess what is going on in the head of the unbeliever. And the only way to handle this, is by being always  led by The Holy Ghost. When you are led by The Holy Ghost you can escape any trap. Inasmuch as you laugh and relate with an unbeliever always have it at the back of your mind that he is from a different kingdom, and possessed by a different spirit. It is not a relationship based on what you think, or feel, but based on the guidance of The Holy Spirit, because at the end of the day one person is bound to influence the other.

We have to be strong spiritually so as not to be easily influenced by the world we are trying to reach. When we maintain a fervent prayer altar and feed constantly on The Word of God, we  will be strengthened by The Spirit to live as sons of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom we shine forth as lights.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to escape every trap the enemy tries to set for me in the area of friendships and associations. Grant me the wisdom in relating to unbelievers, so that in all I do You will always be glorified  in Jesus Name. .

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As a child of God you have to recognize that you are in the middle of an ongoing battle. WORDBITE 222.