Let's talk about surrounding yourself with the right THEY. I was reading today 2 Corinthians 6:14 and it says "Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? " And I know that at a first glance we cringe at this verse because it seems like one is better than the other or that Christians should segregate themselves, but a closer look will show us that it's not that at all.
The key word in the verse is TEAM. I remember growing up and playing volleyball for the state team. It was so much fun. I was surrounded by professional players who were amazing. Our training was intense and we always played to win. Then we would have PE classes at school and the teacher would have us pick teams to play. Being that I had experience I would usually be chosen captain to pick my team and I would always try to pick the best girls to join my team, I wanted to surround myself with the best. I still loved my other classmates but I wanted to make sure that I had on my team the ones that together would go for the win with me.
By definition the word team means: a group of people forming one side to win a competitive game or sport; a group of people coming together to achieve a common goal.
So my question to you is, how far can you go teamed up with an unbeliever until you realize that you are striving for different goals?
You may have common interests, common desires but by nature our main goal in life is different. We can find the goal of a Christ follower in Hebrews 12:1- 2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith."
We have this amazing race set before us and there is a finish line which is Heaven, Eternal life with Jesus at last, and we want to make it to the end. But in order to get there we need to follow our coache's instructions. He ran the race, He knows best, He is with us, by our side, so let's do as He says. By letting go of those who will slow us down and the sin that will trip us up, let's team up with those who are also running towards the same goal, so we can encourage one another and keep each other on the safe path to Heaven.
And I know it's not easy to make those decisions, it might seem hard and it you might feel lonely at first but grab hold of His encouraging words " So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. (Hebrews 12:1-2, 12-13 NLT)"
I pray God's strength over your life today and let's together aim for the finish line!
“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
― C.S. Lewis
