Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: Affected

Have you ever used a marker, crayon, or oil pastels and had an unexpected color/mark appear?  These materials can often "pick up" color from use, misuse, and abuse. I always warn my student not to color marker over top of marker.  This can cause a transfer of color onto the tip of the marker that may have unappealing results for whoever uses that color next.  Crayons and oil pastels can easily pick up the "crumbs" of other colors while in use or storage. Just being together in a box is enough to cause a transfer of colors on to each other. If you are not careful, these seemingly harmless acts can affect a work of art.  

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 13:30

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33

I have a very diverse group of friends & people that I associate.  I feel that just because I'm a Christian does not mean I must only spend time with other people that believe the same way I do.  How boring would that be?!?!  Plus, I feel that we must get outside of the church walls if we want to have an impact on the world around us.  Jesus made a point of spend time with those the "religious" people would not consider.  However, we must be very careful not to place ourselves in situations or with individuals that will have a negative impact on us. I would not place myself somewhere that I felt would cause me to struggle or would influence my ideas & attitudes in a negative way.  Many people will say, "But it is my ministry!"  The Lord would not place you in a ministry that would corrupt you & your character!  We must take responsibility....knowing ourselves, the people, & the situation well enough to know if we need to be in the midst of it.  Because if we are not careful...we will be affected by the influence.  So often people just assume they are unaffected by the company they keep, the places they spend their time, the music they listen to, the websites they visit, the things they read, or the things they listen to on radio, podcasts, or television.  Like the transfer of color that can happen so easily...we pick up things when we are unaware.  We must protect ourselves & those that look to us for guidance by making wise choices in all we do.