Are We On The Same Page?
Today’s Reading – Amos 1 – 5
Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)
The context of verse 3 above deals with both tribes of Israel and how they have chosen to live contrary to the principle of the Word of God. They have become immoral and idolatrous. They have become enamored with the cultures of the heathen nations around them. God tells them here that He cannot walk with these people because they are not in agreement.
I have often quoted this verse when preaching, particularly while speaking on matters of separation. How is it that the professing Christian today feels so comfortable walking alongside the people of the world, who do not know Christ. There must be agreement in order for their to be fellowship. Now, I can walk alongside anybody for a short distance. I will have to work with people who are not Christians at times; and hopefully, I will walk along with a lost man for a time trying to persuade him to trust Christ. Jesus walked and ate with some lost people at times in order to reach them. But, I do not think that this verse is talking about casual, purposeful, or limited contact with the lost world around us. It is talking about true communion. God cannot commune with people who have forsaken Him; and we should not be comfortable running with people who are not in fellowship with Him either.
Christian, be careful who you run with. Surround yourself with people who are going to influence you positively, encouraging your walk with God. Stay away from the gossips who have “the goods” on everybody else. Avoid those who are always negative: who desire to tear everything down, instead of building things up. Run with people who have the same doctrine and standards that you have. My preacher used to say, “You are, or soon will be, who you hang around.” I want to run with people who will cause me to do right and grow in the Lord. Just a thought!
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.
I want to run with people who say one thing then do another, who talk lies behind my back and yet smile to my face, who say they love me yet never call or visit me. I want to run with people who call me family and friend and then ignore me as if I was dead. I want to run with those people who pass judgement without knowing all the facts. I want to run with those people who praise my wife no matter what she does and critize my marriage while I stand near-by. I want to run with those who say they pray for me but God knows they don’t. I want to run with those people who preach the word but because of their stature but don’t have to live it. I want to run with people who lie, steal and gossip about how much better they are than other christians. I want to run with christians who hold a grudge and have forgotten that they are forgiven daily yet continue to hold judgement and contempt in their hearts. I want to run with christians who smile and sing and have perfected the art of deception. But most of all I want to run with the pridefull christian who has the power of persuasion, the power of the position and has complete power over the people; their lives, their thoughts, their actions, their homes, their work, their faith, their family and last but not least total power over their soul. Yep that’s the crowd I wanna run with!!!
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ:
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.