Introduction

Good morning, beloved family of God. It is indeed a joy to stand before you on this wonderful day that the Lord has made, a day filled with promise and potential, a day where we can gather together under the banner of His love and grace.

We find ourselves today on the precipice of a profound conversation, a conversation that is as old as humanity itself, yet as fresh and relevant as the morning sun. It's a conversation about choices and the weight they carry in our lives.

Our guiding star today is the wisdom found in Proverbs 12:26, "The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray." Here, we find a profound truth that speaks to the core of our daily lives.

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right." Indeed, our choices, especially in the company we keep, can often seem to fall in the gray area between right and almost right.

Believers' Burden of Choice

In the realm of faith, we find ourselves standing at the crossroads of decision-making every day. As believers, this isn't a simple matter of choosing between two paths. It's about carrying a divine responsibility, a burden if you will, that our choices should reflect our commitment to Christ and the life He has called us to live.

The Scripture in Proverbs 12:26 reminds us of this responsibility. It tells us that the righteous choose their friends carefully. This isn't just about picking who we hang out with on a Friday night. It's about the company we keep, the influences we allow into our lives, and the impact they have on our walk with Christ.

The first aspect we need to consider is the influence of our choices on our personal faith journey. Each decision we make, each friend we choose, each path we take, has the potential to either draw us closer to God or lead us astray. The company we keep can either encourage us in our faith or hinder our spiritual growth.

We must remember that our choices are like seeds. They may seem small and insignificant at the time, but they have the potential to grow into something much larger. A seed planted in good soil, nurtured and cared for, can grow into a mighty tree. But a seed planted in rocky soil, neglected and forgotten, will wither and die. Our choices, like these seeds, require careful consideration and nurturing.

Becoming Beacons of God's Love

As we consider the weight of our choices, we must also recognize the impact they have on those around us ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO