1 Cor 15:33
33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” NIV
- Ex 23:33; judges 16:16; 2 Sam 13:3; Ps 78:6-7; 101:6; Prov 1:10; 14:7; Haggai 2:11-13; Acts 4:19-20; 1 Cor 5:11
1 Cor 15:34
34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. ESV
- They had been so caught by the culture and its way of thinking, that he calls it a stupor. They were in a daze, unaware of the affect that the people around them were having on them. What is pouring into our hearts? Are we aware of what is influencing us? God help us to meditate on Your Word. Prov 4:23;
Rom 6:12
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. ESV
- The one you obey becomes the master of your life. It says not to let sin reign in your body. “To reign is to rule, to have control over, dominating power or influence.” http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/reign The one you obey is the one you have appointed king of your life. (Rom 6:15-16) Who have you appointed king in your life? Whose desires do you live out, who do you listen to? Jesus said you can only have one master Matt 6:24. If you try to have two, he said you would love one and despise the other. Who does my life show that I have made my master? What evidence in my life shows who I have made my life and my lips declare? If I declare different masters my lips are lying because I know I declared the wrong king, but don’t want to admit it. Who reigns in your life?
Rom 6:15-16
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? NKJV
- vs 1-2; Ps 19:13; Prov 5:22; Isa 30:1; 44:14-17; 65:13; Joel 2:13; Matt 6:24; John 8:34; 13:3-5; Rom 2:4-5; 5:8; 6:1, 12; 11:6; 1 Cor 5:2; 6:12; Gal 4:8; 5:1; 2 Tim 2:26; Heb 10:15-16; James 4:4; 2 Peter 2:19; Jude 4
Matt 18:6
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. NKJV
- Today this verse makes sense. I have recently heard several people’s stories and it honestly hurts to hear it. It hurts because I don’t have a time machine because no matter what I do, I can’t undo the past. I can tell them things to live a different future but I can’t make choices for people, it is up to them to make and walk out some hard choices. These stories all seem to have something in common. All the stories have a villain. At some point in the story you see a character (or characters) that show up and then things start heading south. Someone beats them, someone lies to them, someone takes advantage of them, someone sets a horrible example, and someone hurts them in one form or another. I hear the story and want to travel back in time to before the moment to stop people. I actually would like to inflict large amounts of bodily injury upon the villains. I hear the stories and so many of them sound alike. It is the same lies, the same people, the same anger. I read this verse and it feels good to know they will pay. But then I think some of the villains know they are the villain in the story, some are just so focused on themselves they don’t have a clue that their choices are destroying lives all around them. God, I ask that you would open up their eyes and draw their hearts to you. Let them find a new life in you. May they see the impact they have had on others. May they repent, leave it all behind, and find your forgiveness. Lord, help me and everyone who reads this to see not only what impact our choices have on ourselves, but what affect we have on those around us. We want to live lives that draw people to you. Have your way in us.
- We are held responsible for the influence we have on others. James 3:1 tells us leaders have a stricter judgment. Matt 18:6 seems to imply that we will each give an account for our leadership, and what we did with it. Prov 26:8 talks about the fool who wastes the opportunities God gives, yet even worse many use them for harm which is what Matt 18:6 speaks of. Ezek 33:2-6 speaks of the responsibility of the watchmen.
- God help me to use my influence wisely. Help to lead people closer to you. I don’t ever want to mislead people. Help me point my life toward you.
- Causing others to stumble Rom 14:20; 1 Cor 8:9;
Acts 14:19
19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. NIV
- People are fickle and easily swayed. One minute we find them ready to worship the next we find them stoning Paul. Prov 29:25; John 2:24;
- Vs 20; 1 Cor 15:33; This verse displays the amazing power of influence. The crowd was set on something then a few Jews came from Antioch and we able to persuade the whole crowd in a completely opposite direction. Who is influencing you?
Prov 10:17
17 Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. ESV
- How you handle correction says a lot about you. Prov 1:5; 22:6
- You are responsible for what you do with what you know and for the impact that your choices have on others. James 3:1 tells us leaders have a stricter judgment. Matt 18:6 seems to imply that we will each give an account for our leadership, and what we did with it. Prov 26:8 talks about the fool who waste the opportunities God gives showing us influence not wisely used is wasted, yet even worse many use their influence for harm. Matt 18:6 speaks of those who cause others to sin and speaks of judgment for it. Ezek 33:2-6 speaks of the responsibility of the watchmen, or those who know.
- God help me to use my influence wisely. Help to lead people closer to you. I don’t ever want to miss-lead people. Help me point my life toward you. I don’t want my mistakes, actions or words to cause or give an excuse for someone else to sin.
Matt 5:19
19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. NKJV
- You will be held accountable for what you teach. James 3:1The example and the places you lead people you will get credit for whether you want it or not. So please think carefully about how you are influencing people.
