The people in your life can be one of the most important spiritual assets or be one of your worst curses. Those relationships that are a curse to you are toxic. This week you learn from God’s Word about the dangers of toxic relationships and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people.
“Bad company corrupts good character.” Describe a time when you experienced this warning in your life. What did you learn from your experience?
32 . . . If dead people are not raised, we might as well live by the saying, “Let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” 33 Don’t be fooled. “Bad company ruins good character.” 34 Come to your senses! Live righteously and stop sinning! There are some people who lack knowledge of God — I say this to your shame.
When it comes to cultural toxins, the bottom line is that we must flee from sin and the things that can cause us to sin. Instead, we must strive for a life of purity. Strive for the things that matter to God and not for the things that matter to others.
What things do you need to start focusing on that will help you draw closer to Christ?
It is not enough for us to flee the toxins that so easily beset us. We MUST pursue after we flee to be whole. It is the pursuit of righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, steadfastness and gentleness in YESHUA that gives us health, and wholeness, and freedom in this corrupt culture.
20 Oh, Timothy! Keep safe what has been entrusted to you. Turn away from the ungodly babblings and the argumentative opposition of what is falsely called “knowledge.”
21 For many who promise this “knowledge” have missed the mark, as far as the faith is concerned. Grace be with you.
When we interpret everything according to God’s Word and the purity of His truth, we will realize there are a lot of things people are doing that really don’t draw us closer to God. This is why it’s important that we test everything according to God’s Word because the Bible contains absolute truth. God’s Word should be our guide.
Why do you think it is so difficult to filter out cultural toxins in today’s society?
That is a really good question. How would you answer it?
Reading the verses above, this stands out to me.
11 as well as the persecutions and sufferings that came my way in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
Anybody reading this been persecuted as was our dear brother Paul? No? Then ABBA can surely rescue us from our troubles, you think? Me too :)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; 17 thus anyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work.
We are glad you are here; stay a while, look around, and be encouraged. We estimate there to be over 3,000 posts here at The White Stone Blog. Please know my hope is ALWAYS to help and NEVER harm. I have voiced many opinions and thoughts here since 2007 and by now I MAY NOT EVEN AGREE with all of them and some of my grammar and punctuation likely needs editing. But this is changeless: JESUS is our ONLY Savior and Hope. Do you KNOW Him?
