operating in hatred discrimination racism unkindness – Page 13

Daily Devotional for February 6, 2021 – Belonging to God’s family…it’s time to be obedient and grateful – and get along!

Colossians 3:12-15
Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of his deep love and concern for you, you should practice tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others. Don’t worry about making a good impression on them, but be ready to suffer quietly and patiently. Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Most of all, let love guide your life, for then the whole church will stay together in perfect harmony. Let the peace of heart that comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body. And always be thankful.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Yesterday, we had a driveway visit with our niece and her children. This was the first time since Christmas that all the circumstances aligned for us to get together like this. We were all glad to be able to see each other and interact. Greg had set out a new game – ”Go! Gater” – for everyone to play. A set of clear plastic tubes stand upright, and two players take turns trying to toss colored balls into the tubes from a distance of several feet. The first person to get three balls of the same color in a row inside one tube wins. We all took a turn at this game…and some of us were better than others.

At one point when all the balls were tossed and no one was a winner, Timothy declared that “It was a good game anyway – everyone played well.” And when the children’s mother won several games and demonstrated her skills, not a single kid complained. In fact, they enthusiastically clapped and cheered for her! When I offered ice cream treats later, none of the children fussed about the flavor they were given and accepted their wrapped offering with polite appreciation. Greg and I remarked later that they had all surely matured. There was a time when we would have encountered at least some pouting and frustration – and maybe even some disgruntled kiddos. But yesterday, harmony reigned!

The last few months have been challenging in a number of ways for this little family. We surmise that these collective experiences have taught them valuable lessons about getting along and supporting one another (and of course, credit goes to their parents, too). There have been several recent incidents where they demonstrated gratitude, cooperation, and grace toward everyone. A lot of adults could stand to cultivate such behaviors these days.

Many people are acting like immature children. They are pouting, arguing, and insisting on their own way. Selfishness has become commonplace…as has discrimination and a heightened sense of superiority among many. Lack of regard for others seems to be at an all-time high. This is manifested in everything from refusal to wear masks and consider the health and safety of others, to insistence that anyone who disagrees politically or socially is wrong at best – and in some cases, doesn’t deserve to live!

The worst part of all of this is that many of the people speaking and acting in this manner claim to be born-again Christian disciples who are operating in the will of God. And yet, we clearly see in this scripture passage and throughout the Bible that this is not what God commands – or condones. God does not call us to trample on others. He doesn’t tell us to seek personal gain and satisfaction at all costs, regardless of how it affects anyone else. God doesn’t tell us to throw a fit when we don’t “win” – or we get ice cream, but it’s not the flavor we wanted! God doesn’t tell us to engage in name calling, speak hatefully, or disrespect others. God doesn’t call us to be unloving or unforgiving.

The mandates of God are crystal clear. The responsibilities for Christian disciples are undeniable and indisputable. We cannot serve God as He commands and always have things as we want them. We must surrender our desires and intentions in favor of His. We all have work to do in this area, and we need to start now. God has given us the most amazing Gift in Salvation through the blood of Jesus – and the promise of Eternal Life in His presence. It’s time we started showing our gratitude and serving with faithful obedience…and getting along as members of His “family”.

Daily Devotional for January 31, 2021 – Loving God includes loving people… you’ve got to love both!

1 John 4:20-21
If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

I’ve been working on old family history lately, and this weekend, I’ve been digitizing cassette tape recordings, including an “interview” I conducted with my paternal grandparents in 1982, a few days after their 50th wedding anniversary. In the interview, I asked my grandmother Polly to repeat a story her older sister, Bessie, had told me several years earlier about five siblings who died…most of them before my grandmother was ever born. In all, there were ten children born to my great-grandparents…and six of them would not live to have families of their own.

The circumstances were varied, but all tragic…an 18-month-old toddler who contracted pneumonia…a one-year-old baby who developed blood poisoning…another one-year-old whose cause of death my grandmother could not recall…and an 11-year-old girl who got too close to the wood stove and caught her clothes on fire – and died from her burns. Then there was a baby brother who died at one month of age. My great-grandmother was sick with pneumonia and unable to attend the funeral. My then six year-old grandmother remembers an aunt riding in a wagon to the cemetery while carrying the baby in a small wooden casket on her lap.

After all of these sad events, my grandmother’s father left the family several years later and started a new life in a new state. My grandmother, her older brother and younger sister had to help their mother with farming chores and other work to support their family. My grandmother has said before, “We had a good life until Poppa left…and then we went to work.” Ultimately, they lived with family members and worked to earn their keep doing chores like carrying wood, gardening, tending livestock, and picking crops. And when my grandmother was 18, her brother was involved in a fatal car wreck and died at age 23, leaving her and her little sister to look after my great-grandmother.

When my own father was about 10 years old, my great-grandfather came for a visit. My grandmother said he wanted to act as if nothing had ever happened. She couldn’t do this. They snapped a few photos together, but there was no real reconciliation. In my childhood, very little was ever said about Grandpa – and what was said had a tinge of bitterness to it. But both my grandmother and her little sister began to talk about their poppa to me in their last years. I heard pain in their voices – and even some anger – but never hate. They never stopped loving him, even though he apparently gave them plenty of reasons to harbor ill will.

In the same way, my grandmother and her sister never expressed animosity toward the family members who took them in and gave them work – or resentment that my great-grandmother became “sickly” and unable to do much work herself. They always spoke of Grandma with tremendous respect and reverence…and often mentioned her unwavering Christian faith. I have thought a lot about this woman in recent days…how 72 years filled with heartaches and struggles surely took a toll on her. From what I have discerned, her adult life was filled with struggles, tragedies and challenges. Yet her faith remained unmovable, as did the faith of my grandmother and great-aunts.

Every one of us has experiences that have at least had the potential to leave us bitter and angry…if not filled with downright hatred. We are all sinful people in some way…and some of us are downright evil. I have a hard time comprehending that a murderous terrorist could confess his/her sins to Jesus and dwell in Heaven for all Eternity…but we all know the story of the thief on the cross beside Jesus. I struggle to accept that someone who lies and cheats to serve his/her own interests – and the end result could be the livelihood, or very lives of others – could repent and receive Salvation and the promise of Eternal Life. Still, I know this is what Christ offers to any who embrace Him.

I am human. I struggle to love the unlovely – those who lie, cheat, steal, abuse others, and operate in hatred and violence. I have a hard time accepting that God loves them as much as He loves me. But I know this to be true. I trust the word of God, and I respect the commands and teachings of Jesus. So I know that I must find a way to love others…all of them. I have had good role models within my own family who paved the way and showed me how to love against all odds. I am betting that you have some in your “line” as well. Above all, we have Jesus…and His command was indeed blunt. Loving Him includes loving others…and we simply must learn to do both.

Daily Devotional for January 18, 2021 – A day of service and renewed commitment to hope, peace and equality

Romans 15:7-13
So reach out and welcome one another to God’s glory. Jesus did it; now you do it! Jesus, staying true to God’s purposes, reached out in a special way to the Jewish insiders so that the old ancestral promises would come true for them. As a result, the non-Jewish outsiders have been able to experience mercy and to show appreciation to God. Just think of all the Scriptures that will come true in what we do! For instance:

Then I’ll join outsiders in a hymn-sing;
I’ll sing to your name!

And this one:

Outsiders and insiders, rejoice together!

And again:

People of all nations, celebrate God!
All colors and races, give hearty praise!

And Isaiah’s word:

There’s the root of our ancestor Jesse,
breaking through the earth and growing tree tall,
Tall enough for everyone everywhere to see and take hope!

Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

This is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day… an official day of service – and a time to honor the man who dedicated his life to civil rights and equal treatment for all. Scripture shows us that this is what God desires – that we will treat everyone equally. Jesus did not live and die for one race…or a specific political party. God did not create certain nations, ethnic groups and sexual orientations and say, “My blessings and the salvation of Jesus are only for these people.” Do we really believe that God would create a single human being for whom He did not plan to make available every single gift? Why would God create any person with the idea that “He/she will never enter the gates of Heaven?”

Think about it…God’s glory and all His purposes are intended for each of us. Any person who embraces Jesus Christ, surrenders his/her sins, and commits to serving Him wholeheartedly will receive Salvation – and Eternal Life. This includes those you may have decided are “worthless” or “inferior” in some manner…those who belong to the “wrong” church or political party in your opinion – or the ones with skin that is a different color. God loves them all – He cares about each and every one of them. And we are called to love them, too.

This is the perfect day to renew our determination to live in peace and harmony with others. This is the perfect day to humbly talk to God about how we think, act – and interact with others, especially those we have determined to be “different” in some manner. This is the perfect day to ask God to give us His strength, courage and kindness as we strive to love each and every person with the love of Christ Jesus – even the “stinkers”! This is the perfect day to begin to truly live in God’s joy and peace, to tap into the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, and to move forward with hope.

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality…I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.” Let’s make this the day that we embrace the unconditional love and truth of Jesus and begin to operate fully in hope, peace, joy, and equality. To God be the glory! Amen!

Daily Devotional for February 3, 2019 – Loving God and loving others…how well are you doing?

Luke 10:27
The man replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.’ They also say, ‘Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.’”

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

This morning in Sunday school class, I drew some pictures on the white board to illustrate verses in 2 Samuel 12, where God sent Nathan to tell King David a story about a rich man and a poor man. The rich man had plenty – of everything. The poor man had one dear lamb that he loved as a pet. A traveler came through town, and the rich man killed the poor man’s lamb to serve to the guest for dinner. This story made King David angry! He suggested that the rich man should be put to death. Nathan then quietly reminded David that he was the “rich man”…because he had taken Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, for himself – and then had Uriah killed.

So many of us are so focused on what we want that we are oblivious to the plight of others. We don’t want to worship with anyone who doesn’t totally agree with us – on everything. Some of us don’t even want to live in the same town with people of another race, sexual orientation, or ethnic origin. I am old enough to remember “Whites Only” water fountains, restaurants and entrances in cities surrounding my home town…and sadly, there are people who regret that these are gone.

I often hear people talking about how this issue or that change will affect them…with little to no concern for what it will mean for others. I see people who have plenty throw a fit when those with little to nothing actually get a break. I’ve listened to the complaints of those who are quick to judge or disparage others and suggest that “if he/she just got up and got busy, things would be better.” And I wonder, what must Jesus think about all of this?

Jesus hung out with people that a lot of folks would not give a second glance. More importantly, He died on the cross for these folks just as surely as He died for you and me. Jesus left us with a couple of commands…to love the LORD God with all our heart, mind and soul…and to love others as much as we love ourselves. If you stop and think about what this encompasses…a lot of us have quite a bit of work to do. Are you ready to get started?

Daily Devotional for December 2, 2018 – Getting what you give…lessons in how to treat others

Luke 6:37-38
Jesus said:

Don’t judge others, and God won’t judge you. Don’t be hard on others, and God won’t be hard on you. Forgive others, and God will forgive you. If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated.

This time of year, my thoughts often turn to Mary, the mother of Jesus. There is a lot to unpack in her little life. Consider that when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, she was somewhere between 12 and 14 years of age, historians believe – a mere pre-teen. She was told that she would conceive a baby who would be the Son of God. Her only question was, “How can this be? I am not yet married.”

There was a lot of judgment that could have taken place. Surely the villagers could have judged this young, betrothed girl for her “apparent indiscretion”. Certainly Joseph had every right to call off the engagement. Mary’s own parents could have disowned her and tossed her out of their home to fend for herself on the streets.

But none of this happened. Everyone involved accepted the angel’s words as fact…they trusted that God had sent Gabriel to announce the news…and that every word was true – and according to His plan. They proceeded with faith and confidence…hope and obedience. And look how God blessed them…and us!

Look at it this way…Mary could have said, “NO WAY!” I won’t do it! So many things could have gone wrong. And where might you and I be today as a result? Throughout the Bible we have examples of people who treated others as they wished to be treated…and the ultimate demonstration of this was Jesus Christ. He didn’t judge…He wasn’t hard on others. Jesus forgave us our sins…this is beyond my comprehension! He gave to us more than a “full measure” of grace, love, mercy, kindness, patience, and more.

Jesus fed the hungry, healed the sick, sat with the lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors and others most would deem “unclean” or unworthy. He treated every person He met as someone special and important…because to God, we are each and every one precious. So how can we treat others any differently?

Mary didn’t ask, “What is God thinking? Has He lost His mind?” Jesus didn’t pick and choose who to love. These are only two examples of people who treated others as God desired…but they are two of the most significant models we will ever have. Take some time to think about how they spoke and acted…and how they interacted with others. Search your heart and ask some hard questions about how you are treating others. Where have you given less than your best…and what has it cost you in your relationship with God?

Make a concerted effort today to change any areas that need adjusting. Give others the treatment YOU would want to receive…and always speak and act in a manner that pleases God. If a pre-teen girl in a small, tightly-knit village can trust God’s plans for her life, despite all odds and the potential for some pretty nasty treatment…surely we can give Him our thoughts, words and actions – and trust Him to make something beautiful out of it all for His glory. Are you willing to give it a shot?

Daily Devotional for January 16, 2018 – Whose “boat” are you in?

John 14:21
Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

“We may have come on different ships, but we’re all in the same boat now.” ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Once a year, every human being celebrates a birthday. For some, this is a day of great fanfare – replete with parties, food, gifts, and a lot of attention. For others, it is just another day. Many fall somewhere in the middle.

You have most likely been asked at least once, “What do you want for your birthday?” Some people want big, expensive gifts…some want little to nothing…and even a few want something for others. I have known of children who asked only for donations of pet care items to give to a local shelter – or diapers and toys to give to a foster care program.

There are charitable organizations that actually have programs to “gift” a person in an underdeveloped country a goat, chickens, cow or other animal or plant that can enrich the life of the recipient in a myriad of ways. There are programs on social media where you can wish someone a “Happy Birthday” with a gift to the charity of his/her choosing.

The point is that we ALL experience a birthday once a year…but we don’t all react to these events in the same manner. And in the same way, we are all created by God…but we don’t all respond to Him in the same way. To go a step further, many of us have given our hearts to Jesus…we are His children forever and ever. You could say that we have abandoned our “sinful ships” and all gotten in the “God’s boat”. But that doesn’t mean we are “all on the same page” or represent Christ in the same manner.

Do not misunderstand what I am saying…God did not create us to be His robots. There is nothing wrong with aspiring to “make something of yourself”, achieve goals, or acquire material wealth. There is nothing wrong with taking a stand and “sticking to your guns”. But we must first make sure that we are seeking God’s will…and serving His desires. If we do this, God will bless us with abundance we cannot imagine.

I’m not saying that everyone in “God’s boat” who serves Him obediently will be rich or famous – or always get his/her way in everything. But we will always have all that we need – if not MORE than enough!

We need to get busy looking at life through the lens of Christ…and recognizing that we’re all in this together. We need to understand that God does not see some as superior to others – or more worthy of blessings and abundance. If we are going to be true Disciples of Christ, we need to park envy, greed, and a sense of superiority at the curb…and walk away from these traits once and for all.

In “God’s boat”, there is no distinction by race, ethnic background, economic level, sexual orientation, academia or intellect. All that God sees are people who have committed to serving Him and furthering His Kingdom. In “God’s boat”, everyone celebrates his/her new life in Christ in the same manner by serving with faithfulness and humble obedience. In “God’s boat”, it’s not about where you’ve been…but where you’re going. So whose boat are you in today?

Daily Devotional for January 15, 2018 – Are you blocking the Light?

1 John 2:9-11
Anyone who claims to live in God’s light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It’s the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God’s light and doesn’t block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn’t know which end is up, blinded by the darkness.

On what would be the 89th birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this scripture seems more than appropriate. Darkness cannot drive out darkness…and as we read in 1 John, a person who claims to live in God’s light and hates anyone is operating in darkness. The “Light” that can drive out this darkness and hate is Jesus.

So where does this leave us? I feel like I am surrounded these days by people who claim to love Jesus while demonstrating so much hatred and darkness that it’s almost palpable. Almost daily, I struggle with the dilemma of whether to “unfriend” someone because of their hateful comments on social media – and the attitudes that accompany them. If I block them, there will be no opportunity for these people to see positive, kind remarks that I make or share. If I leave them, others may assume that I agree with their sentiments. And the bigger heartache is that these people block God’s light from others – even as they claim to live in His light.

I pray fervently that God will fix these situations…and give me wisdom and discernment in my own life. I also ask Him to help me to live in a way that NEVER blocks His light for another person. I know I don’t always get this right…but toward that end, I’ve tried to “check” myself as I react and respond in public and on social media. I realize that we are all entitled to “freedom of speech”…and the expressions protected by the First Amendment. But just because we are entitled to say things or act in a particular manner doesn’t mean that we should!

At the same time I have asked God to give me a spirit of compassion and gentleness toward those who behave badly. I will never excuse them…but I must not berate them and compound the darkness. In another quote from Dr. King’s book, Strength to Love*, he says… “Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.”

So I am choosing love – and Light. And on this day, I renew my determination to seek the will and wisdom of God…and to walk in the Light of Christ as I engage with others. I pray that I never offer them darkness or hatred – and that my words and actions never block the Light from reaching them. What about you?

* http://www.thekingcenter.org/archive/document/strength-love

Daily Devotional for August 16, 2017 – What will we tell our children?

Ephesians 4:14-16
We must stop acting like children. We must not let deceitful people trick us by their false teachings, which are like winds that toss us around from place to place. Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head of the body. Christ holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love.

Recently, Timothy was playing with his Legos® and listening to a television show. A commercial came on that featured a well-known soap opera star. Timmy looked up and asked, “Debbie, what’s a ‘Susan Lucci’?” If you think our children aren’t watching and listening, think again!

For some time now, I have been asking the question – both publicly and privately – “What are we to tell our children?” As I see and hear vile, unloving rhetoric spewed at every turn, I struggle with how to address these things with our “little sponges”. Our children have questioned many things they hear on the news and in the talk of adults. They are confused, both by the mixed messages they receive from adults they trust…and by comments that they know – even at their young age – are just not right or true.

More importantly, as they grow in the knowledge of Christ’s love for us – and our mission to “love one another”, they can’t help but question much of what they see and hear every day. Again, I tell you that it has been hard to know how to address these things.

On one hand, I want to ensure these precious children of Christ’s message to love ALL others. I want to condemn hatred and unkindness, bias and discrimination…to tell them that those who perpetuate these ideologies are not representing Jesus. At the same time, I want to teach youngsters to respect the adults and leaders in their lives…because this is also Biblical. But so often, these two factions collide and belie the teachings of God’s word. So what are we to do?

Greg and I have tried to live in truth…and to demonstrate love, acceptance, tolerance, compassion and caring for others. Going forward, the best I believe we can do is to continue this demonstration in words and actions. We must choose our responses carefully. Our condemnation of hatred and evil must not be given disrespectfully, or with any hint of a sense that we are superior to anyone else.

Paul is right…because of our love and devotion to Christ, we should always tell the truth. But we should ask Jesus to direct our steps as we accomplish this…to give us wisdom, courage, and confidence in what we say – and how we say it. We must encourage our children to think for themselves and learn to operate in love and truth – even when this is an unpopular stance. And we must continually call on Jesus to show us His truth…to fill us with His understanding and compassion…and to guide our words and actions at all times.

We are to tell our children to seek Jesus at every turn – and to operate in His truths. We are to ask God to protect us from evil…and fill us with comfort and courage as we “put on His full armor” and stand for what we know is right. And we must pray for all who perpetuate lies and evil words and actions…and let God handle this according to His perfect will. People are watching – including our children. What – and Who – are you showing them?

Daily Devotional for June 27, 2017 – Are you guilty by association?

Ephesians 5:6
Don’t let yourselves get taken in by religious smooth talk. God gets furious with people who are full of religious sales talk but want nothing to do with him. Don’t even hang around people like that.

I’ve said it before, but social media is a double-edged sword. When it is used for prayer requests, hundreds – if not thousands – of people can be reached with a single post, and the heavens can be flooded with petitions for care and restoration. When friends welcome a new baby…lose a loved one…get married or get a new job…this can be a convenient tool to notify many people at once. When my mother was in her last days of her battle with cancer, I used Facebook to post updates to family members and friends…and I was able to read their responses back to Mother and talk about them with her.

But there is an ugly side of social media…and honestly, I have come to see several “friends” in a different light because of it. I have seen several people I considered to be faith-filled, Godly Christians share scripture in one post…and spout vitriol in the next. I’ve come to realize that while they SAY they love Jesus and follow His teachings…their attitudes with regard to many other people and situations suggest otherwise. With such “proof in print”, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that these people are involved in “smooth religious sales talk”…and I don’t feel that I am judgmental in saying so.

What struck me about this scripture passage was Paul’s admonition to avoid getting taken in by these people – and more importantly, his warning…”Don’t even hang around people like that.” I will admit, I have struggled with this one. Should I “unfriend” such people and disassociate with them? Will that make me seem pious and judgmental? Are we missing an opportunity to share the love of Christ if we block a “friend” from seeing our posts?

Here’s what I have prayerfully decided. In some instances, the risk that someone will think that I agree with these people and what they are peddling in the name of Jesus is simply too high. If even one person sees a post on my wall from someone who is spouting untruths or hatred – and thinks that I condone this or endorse it as acceptable Christian behavior, I have betrayed my witness and the honor and glory of Jesus. I don’t want to be hurtful or mean…but sometimes, being a genuine Christian disciple is difficult…and hard choices must be made.

Years ago, I fully surrendered my heart to Jesus with this promise…”If You take every single person away from me, I will still love You and serve You. If my faith and obedience costs me every family member and friend I have, so be it.” I meant this with every fiber of my being…and God has blessed me because of my commitment. Yes, there have been a few “friends” who have faded into the woodwork – or dropped off my radar completely. And that’s okay. My allegiance is to Jesus Christ and His teachings…not the double-talk of people who purport to operate in the love of Christ while doing the devil’s bidding.

Perhaps you are struggling with a similar issue in your own life. Maybe you have wondered what to do about certain “friends” and/or situations. Prayerfully consider what God would have you do. Consider how your actions reflect your own relationship with Jesus – and your Christian discipleship. Do what you must to make sure that your words and actions always line up with His teachings…even if it means thinning the ranks of your list of “friends”.

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