Your Friends Matter to God

Daily Scripture Threshing for Sunday, March 28, 2021

Today’s Text: 1 Kings 22:29-36

Key Verse: 1 Kings 22:32 (ESV) — “And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is surely the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out.”

In a bid to get rid of certain pesky crows, a farmer once fired shots at a flock of crows. Unfortunately, his sociable parrot had joined the crows and was also badly hit by bullet. The farmer’s son was surprised to see the injured parrot, and asked, “Dad, what happened?” And guess what the farmer’s response was: “Bad company!” The scripture before us today is a warning to avoid harmful influences. Jehoshaphat almost lost his life in a battle he did not need to fight the first place. Regardless of our position, age or spiritual strength, unwise influences will negatively impact our walk with God; bring us into needless struggles, and endanger our lives. It is always an unlimited liability: a yoke, an unequal yoke.

Our enemy seeks every avenue to pull us back, weigh us down, draw us into sin, and destroy our lives. We must bear in mind that he often uses wrong influences to accomplish above goals. As a child, my parents always warned me to beware of who I go with. “A sheep flocks with a dog eats excrement.” They always told me. Be warned my friend. Any alliance with the world is an enmity with/to God (James 4:4), Learn from how Ahab deliberately disguised to betray Jehoshaphat to danger. We are warned in scriptures not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14). Though God had mercy on Jehoshaphat because he cried out for mercy but someone else may not be as lucky. Our greatest take home from this text is that it displeases God when the godly joins in confederacy with the ungodly.

Quote for the Day: “Before you compliment a friend “I am as thou art” be sure of the content of his character. (Simon Olatunji)

Prayer: O Lord, please protect me and my household from influences that are not good, and against any counseled rebellion against your purpose, in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, PhD

The Darling Bishop (DaBishop),

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