When we become believers, each of us is made into a new creation! Our entire lives are made new. We leave behind our old ways and press forward toward newness in Christ. Sometimes in our walk of faith, we find we need to leave behind those who are hindering our walk with Christ. I am not saying that when we become believers we need to forget those in our life before. Quite contrary! If the people around you don't know Jesus, our goal is always bring more into His kingdom. But there are circumstances when we are not fit to do so or it is not to our benefit.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (ESV)
When we are young ambitious Christians, we are on fire with new life and wanting to spread the good news! However, living for Jesus is everything that comes contrary to our flesh and at first it can be a hard switch to make. When our friends are still living in darkness and we are new Christians, it can prove too much of a temptation to fall back into old sinful habits when around them. It is easy to get caught up in the old ways that come so naturally to your flesh. This is why it is so important to recognize your limits and to be in community with fellow believers. Consider taking a friend from church with you to hang out with your "old" friends or inviting them into your church environment until you are strong enough to go back into their setting without succumbing to temptation.
Sometimes, however, we try to evangelize people and it fails. Maybe we even do everything right! We love them and gently lead them to the truth and yet they still choose to reject Him. This can happen with both Christians and non-Christians alike. But is this our fault? Absolutely not. It can be a heartbreaking blow when a person blatantly rejects the truth (and maybe you in the process), but we are all designed with free will. Sometimes people knowingly choose sin and darkness over Jesus. They cannot bear to part with their sin, so instead they part with the One who could save them from their bondage. It is a terrible decision, but it is one we are all free to make.
I want to advise you today that when someone makes the decision to reject Jesus, sometimes it is appropriate for us to move on without them. It is hard to watch them struggle and make bad decisions, but in the end we cannot change decisions or hearts. Only Jesus can do that. It can sometimes come down to praying and giving that person into the Father's hands without being involved in their lives. It can be appropriate to leave the door open for a relationship at some point, but sometimes we have to be okay with stepping out of others' lives.
Times will come when those people will distract you from Jesus or lead you away and you find you need to let them go. It might be friends from your "past life" without Christ, family members, or even members of your Christian community who refuse to recognize truth. Sometimes we find ourselves trying to help our brother up when he doesn't want to get up! Then we get behind in our own walk with Christ for being so focused on them. Listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit in those times and ask Him if those relationships are beneficial for you to keep up, or whether you should let them go entirely or temporarily.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” (ESV)
Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. (ESV)
2 Thessalonians 3:6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us (NIV)
Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (ESV)
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (ESV)
When we are young ambitious Christians, we are on fire with new life and wanting to spread the good news! However, living for Jesus is everything that comes contrary to our flesh and at first it can be a hard switch to make. When our friends are still living in darkness and we are new Christians, it can prove too much of a temptation to fall back into old sinful habits when around them. It is easy to get caught up in the old ways that come so naturally to your flesh. This is why it is so important to recognize your limits and to be in community with fellow believers. Consider taking a friend from church with you to hang out with your "old" friends or inviting them into your church environment until you are strong enough to go back into their setting without succumbing to temptation.
Sometimes, however, we try to evangelize people and it fails. Maybe we even do everything right! We love them and gently lead them to the truth and yet they still choose to reject Him. This can happen with both Christians and non-Christians alike. But is this our fault? Absolutely not. It can be a heartbreaking blow when a person blatantly rejects the truth (and maybe you in the process), but we are all designed with free will. Sometimes people knowingly choose sin and darkness over Jesus. They cannot bear to part with their sin, so instead they part with the One who could save them from their bondage. It is a terrible decision, but it is one we are all free to make.
I want to advise you today that when someone makes the decision to reject Jesus, sometimes it is appropriate for us to move on without them. It is hard to watch them struggle and make bad decisions, but in the end we cannot change decisions or hearts. Only Jesus can do that. It can sometimes come down to praying and giving that person into the Father's hands without being involved in their lives. It can be appropriate to leave the door open for a relationship at some point, but sometimes we have to be okay with stepping out of others' lives.
Times will come when those people will distract you from Jesus or lead you away and you find you need to let them go. It might be friends from your "past life" without Christ, family members, or even members of your Christian community who refuse to recognize truth. Sometimes we find ourselves trying to help our brother up when he doesn't want to get up! Then we get behind in our own walk with Christ for being so focused on them. Listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit in those times and ask Him if those relationships are beneficial for you to keep up, or whether you should let them go entirely or temporarily.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” (ESV)
Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. (ESV)
2 Thessalonians 3:6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us (NIV)
Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (ESV)
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