The "Right" Crowd

Scripture:
Psalm 1 (NIV)

Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff
    that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. 

Devotional:

I have had conversations with people about why we chose to home-school our children.  Someone once said wouldn’t it be better for your kids to be in public school so that they can make a difference with all the other kids.  On the surface that is appears to be sound logic.  We must be in the world if we are to reach out into it and make changes.  The problem is that instead of one making a difference on twenty, the twenty influences the one.  I have seen this happen to more than one child or teen as they grow up.  Things start out well.  They have a firm foundation and seem good and solid, and for the most part they are.  However, too much influence from the wrong crowd and not enough positive influence from the right crowd had a negative impact.  

Psalm one tells us to watch who we keep company with.  We need to make sure that we are associating ourselves with Godly people in order to help maintain our faith.  It is too easy to lose track of who we are.  If you think a certain way long enough you will start to believe it.  If you are around the wrong crowd too long they will affect the way you think.  While it is important to go forth into this world to shine for Christ, it is equally important to make sure you are still hanging with the “right” crowd.