5 Principles Christians Use when Choosing Friends

We live in a culture that frequently exalts people who lack character. Many sinful men and women become celebrities and heroes.

But Christians should have different criteria when picking heroes because:

1. We are in the world but not of it (John 17:14-16).
We should be different!
  

2. We honor positions out of respect for God. 
God commands honor for our parents (Ephesians 6:2), the elderly (1 Timothy 5:1-2), and government officials (Romans 13:1-7).

3. But we only honor the character of those who honor God.
"Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret."(1)

4. We're careful because we know that we become like the people we admire (1 Corinthians 15:33).

5. We strive to show kindness to all men, but we choose our heroes and friendships Biblically.(2)
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(1) verses 10-12 of Ephesians 5:1-14. 
(2) See “How, Who, and What to Judge According to Scripture.”

To do a short study on this devotion and read about a father who honored his sons more than he honored God, check out today's Bite Size Bible Study.

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