April 18, 2023

DON’T FOLLOW THE CROWD IN WRONG

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice.

Exodus 23:2 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

Moses is giving God’s commands to the children of Israel. They are establishing the code of conduct for the new nation that is arising. It is interesting that God recognizes a tendency in human nature to go along with the crowd, even if the crowd is wrong. He tells them—and us— “You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong.” As a pastor I have counseled with many people who got themselves into trouble simply because they allowed others to sway their behavior. They wanted to fit in and be accepted so they crossed a line of behavior they would never have crossed on their own. Paul tells us in the New Testament, “Bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Cor 15:33). I’ve heard a lot of parents talk about how innocent and perfect their child is, but they just got in with the wrong crowd. Perhaps it was the fault of the parent for not teaching them this basic Bible principle—you become who you hang out with. If you run with people who do bad things, you will eventually do bad things. I’ve read recent studies that have determined if one couple in your closest friends gets a divorce there becomes a great likelihood that others will get a divorce. The people that are closest too you will determine the person you become. As parents we teach our children to choose their friends carefully. We even attempt to determine some of those choices by the church we attend and the things our children participate in. Why don’t we put this same principle into effect for ourselves? Why don’t we think more carefully about the way we chose our friends?

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit help me to choose wisely those I associate with. Help me to making pleasing You my top priority.

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