Who of us hasn’t had someone tell us, “if you lie down with dogs, you’ll wake up with fleas” at one time in our lives? Basically, this means if you hang out with bad people, you will eventually pick up their faults. How many of us grew up with friends who got good grades in school, then started hanging with 
the “bad” crowd? Next thing you know they were failing classes or started doing drugs.
In most cases, whoever you associate with is what you will eventually become. That is why you need to hang out with those who are where you want to be. The same goes for those teachers you learn from. How often have you had someone who is overweight give you dieting advice? Or someone in debt who tells you how to get rich? If they really believed what they were saying, wouldn’t they be living it? You should learn from those who are where you want to be.
________________________________
If you hang out with chickens, you’re going to cluck and if you hang out with eagles, you’re going to fly. – Steve Maraboli, business coach
________________________________
If you want to be a musician, you should get together with people who practice daily. Not those who just dabble. If you want to be a New York Times bestselling author then listen to what other NY Times bestselling authors have to say. And if they give you advice, don’t balk, do it.
The same is true for Christians. If you want to get a further understanding of Jesus, hang with other 
Christians. Good Christians, not those who just talk the talk. And going to church should be one of your goals. Hebrews 10:25 reads, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. By being with other Christians, you are encouraged to grow in God’s word.
Some people give up on church because they can’t find one where they fit it or they feel their church is about people, not God. Besides, it’s nicer to sleep in on Sunday after a hard week’s work. However, you should congregate with other Christians or you will not learn and grow in your walk. If you need to leave the church you are attending then do so. You must go where God is leading you, even if that means another church.
Hanging out with other Christians gives us strength to fight off the adversaries of the world who attack us daily. It gives us someplace to go for peace and encouragement. The less you attend church or associate with other Christians, the more easily evil forces can come against you and win. It’s no different than the woman who says she’ll never spend more than she earns, but she keeps going to lunch with women who do nothing but shop. She’ll eventually find herself with her credit cards out at the local mall.
If you or someone you know are in need of prayer this week, please let us know. We’d be more than happy to pray for you.
And if this post moved you in some way, please feel free to share it.
