Daily Devotional

If you haven’t heard by now, I love movies. Action/adventure films like Indiana Jones or Jumanji are filled with dangerous terrain and daring escapes, but beneath the surface, they reveal one foundational reality: the characters are bound together and must rely on each other to survive. Even the secular world understands that our companions shape who we are. Ultimately, our choice of friends is not merely a casual preference; it is a profound matter of spiritual stewardship. Every person we allow into our inner circle will influence us. They quietly mold our language, impact our character, shape our Sunday habits, and directly affect our walk with the Lord. Scripture warns us plainly that a companion of fools will suffer harm.

When I think about the early church expanding, I often view its growth strictly through the lens of great sermons or miraculous signs and wonders. Yet, I believe God also deeply values the local church community and intentional, Christ-centered friendships to accomplish His work. In the book of Acts, a godly couple named Aquila and Priscilla connected with the Apostle Paul through their shared trade of tentmaking. They labored together, shared meals, lived out their faith in the daily grind, and sharpened one another. Later, they brought a fervent believer named Apollos into their circle, privately discipling him to understand the way of God more perfectly. This committed, gospel-centered community helped insulate them against a corrupt world. Our circles carry that exact same weight: they will either protect us from compromise or slowly cause us to drift away from righteousness. We must choose our associations with prayerful discernment.

If you have time today, take a moment to evaluate your circle of influence and consider implementing one of the following application steps:

• ADD: Intentionally invite mature, Bible-believing believers into your closest circle—those who respect God's Word, exhibit spiritual fruit, and encourage you to walk closer to Jesus.
• SUBTRACT: Recognize when an ungodly relationship is pulling you down. If an association constantly feeds your flesh rather than your spirit, dare to step back and limit their influence.
• MULTIPLY: Do not isolate in a comfortable bubble. Link arms with Spirit-filled companions to jointly serve the Lord and fulfill the Great Commission, using your unified testimony to reach the lost.

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.