WHO'S "RUBBING OFF" ON WHO?!
1 Corinthians 15:33 (NKJV)- "Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits." (Bad company corrupts good character).
"rub off"= (1).to have an effect through close association or contact, ESP so as to make similar:"her crude manners have rubbed off on you." (2). a resulting effect on something else; consequences a positive rub-off. (3). To become transferred.
19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. BUT I DO NOT IGNORE THE LAW OF GOD; I OBEY THE LAW OF CHRIST.22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
As you see in our opening Scripture, we have to be very careful about who we hang around! When we spend a lot of time with another person, we begin to 'rub off' on one another. In other words, we may begin to talk like one another (picking up certain 'slang' words and accents), we may begin to behave in the same manner (picking up certain mannerisms, habits, and character traits),we may start to hang in the same places, hang around the same people,etc., but WHO'S RUBBING OFF ON WHO?!
Matthew 9:10-13 (New King James Version)
10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Now from the above Scripture, you see that Jesus purposely hung around notorious sinners! But see, his purpose was to 'heal' them. To deliver them from their sins! He was 'rubbing off" on them, and NOT the other way around! He was strong enough in mind, body, soul and spirit, to not become influenced by anyone-except His Father! We would be wise to do the same! Let us see what the Apostle Paul said:
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (New Living Translation)
19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. BUT I DO NOT IGNORE THE LAW OF GOD; I OBEY THE LAW OF CHRIST.22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
So you see again, there are times when we have to purposely place ourselves in unbeliever's circles! Otherwise, we'd have to leave this world to not come into contact with them; and of course we cannot witness to them, if we are not amongst them! (1 Corinthians 5:9-10) But then, we have to be sure that we are witnessing to them from a pure heart, led by the Holy Spirit and not the flesh! We are to live our lives before them in such a way, that Christ is clearly shown through us! Our hanging around them, should solely be to "rub off on them" and not the other way around! Never compromise your beliefs and what you know is right, for anyone! WHO'S RUBBING OFF ON WHO?!
Now there is a flip side to this as well my friends! You have to purposely place yourselves in other believers' circles as well! If you admire certain godly attributes in a certain person, and you desire to change and grow in an area where someone else has grown; place yourself in their circle! Let them rub off on you!
So if you want to be a true worshiper, hang around true worshipers. If you want to be a prayer warrior, hang around some prayer warriors! Get the point? :0) Just be sure that no matter who you are around, you are rubbing off 'righteousness' and surrounding others with a 'pleasing aroma.' And that you are allowing only good things to rub onto you!
WHO'S RUBBING OFF ON WHO?!
Copyright © 2010
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.