One common thing that I've noticed among youths who come to the youth group is the struggle they go through in order to abandon the friends they've made in the world. This is typical of them.
I tell you, they manage to stop using drugs, they forgive those who hurt them, they begin doing better at school, but when it comes to 'friends' they say, "Ah, I know them for too long. How can I turn my back on them?", or something like, "If I stop hanging out with them then who will be my friends?".
These youths fail to understand that unless they leave their friends behind they won't grow spiritually. Yes, they won't. The Bible says:
"Don't become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That's not partnership; that's war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands?"
2 Cor 6:14 (The Message)
Let me break it down to you for a better understanding. What they literally do is to come to the YPG (light), receive help and guidance and then after that go back to their worldly peers (darkness) because they can't 'live' without them.
Who does that? Who, after years living in darkness, finding the light that brings direction to them, goes back into darkness again? This makes non sense!
Okay. Some youths might say that they go back out there to help them out. I've heard youths saying that because now that they know the truth they should tell their so called friends of the new life they've found. Yes, the same friends who never came to terms with their conversion and their notorious changes.
I question for you: what is easier, for a basket full of good oranges to make the one rotten orange among them good or for the rotten one to spoil the entire basket? You know the answer to this question.
Friends, let's be wise. I'm not being radical. I'm just saying that there's a right time for things to happen. If you've just started attending the YPG now I advise you to pray for your friends in the meantime.
I know God will soon provide a way for you to meet them and invite them to come to the church with you. Get strong first. Leave them behind. It's either them or God.
"Blessed is the man who walks
not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and in His law he meditates day and night."
Psalm 1:1-2 (NKJV)
At the end of the day, who's got your back?
P.S. - Follow up on this message about friendship. There's more coming.
Pr Luke Castro
6 comments:
I agree. I couldn't have said it better, "at the end of the day, who's got your back?" I remember that I would consider my friends from the world to be priority. We would help one another, but when things weren't so bad. When I decided to convert and have a new life, it was then that I realized that my so called "friends" were not really who they claimed to be. I started being the center of mockery, and instead I was sort of left to the side.
Its funny how they didn't want me to come to church, in other words impeded me from seeking God, and yet they weren't there when I needed them the most!!! Their is only ONE who will never truly forsake you, quite the contrary its us who forsake Him. That ONE is God. No matter what we do, he will also be there willing to help us out, of course if we are willing to receive His help.
Thanks for sharing.
This was my worse mistake and also my biggest difficult when I come to Christ! It was difficult avoid my friends, but when time passed, I realize that I wasn't growing spiritually! I had to make a choice! And I did!
I'll pass this to the youths here in Pompano!
Is true,friends who we made while in the world often disturb our spiritual growth.My old friends dont accept that i changed because i was the 'crasiest'.But thank God some of them were convinced and they too are standing strong in the LORD.
In spirit,DINEO
Is true,friends who we made while in the world often disturb our spiritual growth.My old friends dont accept that i changed because i was the 'crasiest'.But thank God some of them were convinced and they too are standing strong in the LORD.
In spirit,DINEO
This is so true I experince it myself before I gave my life 100 % to god it was very dificult to stop talking to my so called friends they used to make fun of me beause I went to church I mean come on I was close to them so I would always choose them over god it was later that I find out that it wasent worth it I went trugh a very tough situation and none of them where there to rise me up but God it was then that I took the decision to leave them behind and follow god and untill now I don't regret it I'm happy God opened my eyes!
This is true! I experienced this when I started attending VYG(YPG),but I chose to leave my friends and follow God! Off curse they weren't happy but I had no other chose, it was the best thing I could do to grow spiritually and keep walking in the "light"!
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