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Be Selective!, September 7
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather reprove them.
Ephesians 5:11
.
The Christian should withdraw himself from the company of those
who are as a snare to his soul. When you come in contact with those
whom you cannot lift into a pure and holy atmosphere, because their
moral tastes are wholly perverted, you must shun their society. Persons
of this class have generally a strong will and positive temperament, and
when wrought upon by the enemy of God, they become efficient agents
in leading souls from the path of righteousness to paths that are false and
dangerous. The moral atmosphere surrounding these souls is tainted with
evil, and exerts only a defiling influence.
Your associates may not be expected to be free from imperfections or
sin. But in choosing your friends, you should place your standard as high
as possible. The tone of your morals is estimated by the associates you
choose. You should avoid contracting an intimate friendship with those
whose example you would not choose to imitate....
Choose for your associates those who hold religion and its practical
influences in high respect. Keep the future life constantly in view. Let
not your associations put these thoughts out of your mind. Nothing will
so effectually banish serious impressions as intercourse with the vain,
careless, and irreligious. Whatever intellectual greatness such persons
may attain, if they treat religion with levity or even with indifference, they
should not be your chosen friends. The more engaging their manners in
other respects, the more should you dread their influence as companions,
because they would throw around you an irreligious, godless, irreverent
influence and yet combine it with so many attractions that it is positively
dangerous to morals.
Dare to be a Daniel. Dare to stand alone.... A cowardly and silent
reserve before evil associates, while you listen to their devices, makes you
one with them.... Have courage to do right.
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