"Oh, Come On!"

[10/04/2011 "teEn-MAIL"]

"OH, COME ON!"

"Oh, come on! What's the problem. It will be fun. Join us." Such are the pleadings of friends that don't always lead down the right path. Regardless of the pressure we might feel to go along, serious consideration ought to be given to the "what" and "whom" with which we go along.

Solomon exhorted. . .
"(10) My son, IF SINNERS ENTICE YOU, DO NOT CONSENT. (11) If they say, 'COME WITH US, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; (12) like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; (13) we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; (14) THROW IN YOUR LOT AMONG US; we will all have one purse' -- (15) my son, DO NOT WALK IN THE WAY WITH THEM; HOLD BACK YOUR FOOT FROM THEIR PATHS, (16) for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood." (Proverb 1:10-16 ESV)

Perhaps that doesn't sound like anything we would be enticed toward, but are there still areas of life where the draw to conform to those around us is strong and the same refusal to join in needs to prevail? Maybe the struggle we have had is when we have changed the direction of our life for the good and those around us have difficulty either accepting it or begin watching to see if it is for real. When we make changes in our life, it sometimes takes others time to accept those changes as genuine. Since many people often correct their behavior for a while only to eventually revert back into their hold habits, sometimes life changes are suspect. Then there is the other side where changes made from the old life to the new in Christ cause some of our friends to be SURPRISED we don't still join with them in the activities we once did. They may also make fun of us for the change of direction our life has made.

Peter noted. . .
"(3) For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. (4) With respect to this THEY ARE SURPRISED WHEN YOU DO NOT JOIN THEM in the same flood of debauchery, AND THEY MALIGN YOU; (5) but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." ( 1 Peter 4:3-5 ESV)

Verse 4 in The New Living Translation reads. . .
"(4) Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you." [NLT, © 2004, Wheaton, Illinois, Tyndale House Publishers]

Have we experienced this? If not, it will eventually happen. However, the thing that may SURPRISE them most -- if they fail to eventually repent and change the course of their life as we have done -- is the accounting they will ultimately be called to give. Following Solomon's exhortation noted above, he went on to state that these would ultimately fall victim to their own actions. ( Proverbs 1:18-19) Remaining with that old course is not wise.

Regardless of the name calling, the ridiculing, the taunting, or the urging, may we refuse to "walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths." ( Proverbs 1:15 ESV) Let us instead live to reveal the genuineness of our Christian walk and the wisdom of the Lord's Way. We may be SURPRISED at who eventually decides our course is actually the right way and decide to join us.

Have a great day LIVING TO LEAD THE RIGHT WAY!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Peer Pressure