Bible Reading of the Day: Read 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1.
Verse of the Day: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’” (1 Corinthians 15:33, NIV).
“Don’t yell at me, Dad!” Mason said as he got into the car. He had called his dad to pick him up, giving him only the address on the phone. He knew his father would be upset when he arrived at a dark street corner in front of a liquor store in a bad neighborhood. He explained, as his father turned the car toward home, that he had been riding in a car with some friends. The other guys in the car had decided to try to buy some alcohol. When Mason heard what they were planning, he had first tried to talk them out of it, then insisted that they let him out of the car if they were going to go through with it.
“I didn’t do anything wrong, Dad,” he explained defensively. “I didn’t want any part of what they were planning.”
“You did the right thing by calling me, Son,” Dad said. “I’m proud of you for that. But what were you doing with those boys in the first place?”
Mason shrugged. “They’re just some friends.”
“What are you doing with friends like that?” Dad asked.
“They’re not close friends or anything,” Mason answered. “We just hang together sometimes.”
Dad drove for a few moments before speaking. “Do you remember,” he said after awhile, “when we used to go to our Scout outings together? Remember all those three-legged races we ran together?”
Mason cast a questioning look at his father. “Sure,” he said.
“That was fun, wasn’t it?”
Mason shrugged, relieved that his dad had apparently changed the subject. “Sure.”
Dad chuckled. “We sure fell down a lot.” He exchanged glances with Mason, who smiled. “We never did get the knack of it. Probably because my legs were so long compared to yours.” Dad wasn’t looking at Mason anymore. He just kept talking. “We were kind of mismatched-like you and those friends. You made a good decision to not participate in what they had planned, Mason. You’re a Christian; they’re not. You’re trying to listen to God; they’re listening to the Tempter’s voice.”
“But shouldn’t I-shouldn’t I try to witness to them?” Mason asked.
“Sure,” Dad said. “But don’t run any three-legged races with them. They’re not running in the same direction that you are.”
TO DO: If weather permits, run a three-legged race as a family today (either against each other or to see which team—mom/dad, mom/daughter, dad/son—can record the best time) as a reminder not to “team up” with unwise and ungodly companions. Or light a candle during your prayer time today or tomorrow to remind you that light has no “fellowship” with darkness.
TO PRAY: “Lord, we need your help to remember not to have fellowship with darkness. Help us to be wise rather than foolish.”
