Scripture

Deuteronomy 30:15,19 NLT

“Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster….Oh, that you would choose life.”

Consider

Choosing life means living fully under the counsel and authority of God, who lovingly created us and has good plans for our lives. Choosing death means shutting God out of our goals and decisions, refusing God’s counsel and discipline because we are determined to go our own way.

When it comes to relationships, we choose life when we seek out others who will honor and support our walk with God. Life-nurturing companions respect our desire to learn and obey God’s ways. They may pray with us, affirm and encourage our giftedness, and lovingly confront us when we stray from God’s chosen paths. In sharp contrast are relationships that lead us into death and disaster. Life-diminishing companions compel us to hide our faith and discourage our desire to serve God. They shame our dependence on God and offer us other gods and idols to follow after.

Long ago Augustine wrote in his work, Confessions, “Friendship can be a dangerous enemy, a seduction of the mind.” He refers to the power of life-diminishing friendships that lure us to perform sinful acts we would never choose to do on our own. Our need to belong is powerful, and trying to fit in with the wrong companions will force us to choose sides, whether to love and obey God or to reject God’s ways and scorn what the world perceives as cumbersome restrictions.

Relationships that dismiss God are especially vulnerable to conflict because each party is driven to self-protect. In life-diminishing relationships, conflict tends to trigger angry, defensive behaviors or sullen withdrawals that leave little room for love and conciliatory efforts. Relationships that honor God, on the other hand, are less likely to be destroyed by conflict because both sides are willing to consider love and forgiveness as healing solutions. Love for God motivates such persons to find a path to peace because they are committed to God’s reconciling work here on earth.

Pray

FATHER, I choose to life! Grant me life-nurturing companions who will honor you and encourage me to mature in my faith. When conflicts arise, show me the source of the problem and help me to choose love and forgiveness as healing solutions.  In my relationships with people who don’t know you, shine your love through me and shield me from all that would tempt me away from friendship with you.

Reflect

Psalm 1:1-3; Romans 8:5-8

Ponder

Do I choose friends I try to fit with or friends who fit with me? What’s the difference?