Men's Monday Message: Associations

ceolabriola
Aug 4
2 min read

Good morning men of God,

It is my belief that my associations will either lift me or bring me lower.

Bring me towards Christ or away from Christ.

Seems to be a principle of life.

You want to be successful, hang around those that are successful.

Want to excel at something, hang around those who excel in that area.

I know for myself that I always seemed to have a better round of golf when I played with better golfers.

Opposite is true, too.

The culture sets the level of acceptance, success, what is "right", but God has His own standard.

Romans 12:2 (MSG)...

"Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."

See, those we associate with will validate what we believe and how we act, good or bad.

Those we hang with will bend and bias our belief and behavior so we "fit in".

Hang around the old gang that are constantly using foul language and it will not be too long where you'll be doing the same.

You know I'm right.

Our associations give us permission to act and behave the way we do.

So, here's the question...

What "permissions" do I walk in that my associations granted?

Do they reflect Christ?

Think about it!

Strength and Honor, but Only for His Glory,

MDN Coach Dennis Labriola

Author of Seventh-Inning Stretch: Reflection on the Game of Life