WHO IS YOUR FRIEND?

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Text: 1 KINGS 22: 30

So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, "Surely it [is] the king of Israel!" Therefore they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat cried out. And it happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that it [was] not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.

There is a popular saying that says, show me your friend and I will tell you your character.

King Jehoshaphat had walked in all the statutes of God as his father King David did and it pleased God. But he did one thing which nearly caused his untimely death if not for the mercies of God. And that was his friendship with king Ahab ( King of Israel). 

As children of God, we sometimes associate ourselves with people who naturally can be our (family members , classmates and even old friends) who are not in the light, and mostly that  friendship is not because we want to show them the light but rather to gist and sometimes engage in ungodly conversations. This often land us into trouble. The bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:33 *Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.* 

In the case of king Jehoshaphat he just wanted to pay his friend king Ahab a visit,  he had no intention of accompanying him to war, but during their conversation, king Ahab asked him to go with him to battle and out of the good mind of king Jehoshaphat he told king Ahab to inquire of the Lord first, but Ahab had already made up  his mind to the point that he obeyed fake  prophecies and rejected what God was saying.

Jehoshaphat out of his own kindness chose to follow Ahab to the battle even though it was not the will of God.

This is the position of many believers, even when their decisions  or the decisions of their family and friends do not align with the will of God, they go with it nonetheless. 

As children of God we should learn when  to say no and know that God is our source of help. You must not allow your relationship with any flesh and blood lead you away from God.

Bible Reading:

Matthew 12: 35-37.

PRAYER FOCUS
Father God, I receive the  Grace to do your bidding even when all odds are against it.

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