Corona Devo 1794

Have you ever spent time with someone w-h-o 

                                                                            j--u--s--t 
                                                                                            d--r--a--i--n--s
                                                                                                                        y---o---u?

Do you know what I mean?  After a conversation together...you feel emotionally exhausted or physically drained, as if the life has been sucked out of you.

I am sorry to admit it, but yes, sometimes I get stuck by those that suck (the life out of me).  Don't we all?  Being with that kind of person is work.  I can't say that I enjoy it, and I could not describe our time together as companionship.

BUT...in (beautiful, uplifting, encouraging) contrast....when was the last time that we enjoyed the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts (2 Timothy 2:22)?  

(Or...maybe it's time to.)

Enjoying the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts is not life-sucking...it is life-giving!  There is a strength and an encouragement, a comfort, and an oomph(!) that blesses our spirit when we meet with others who are in the spirit of Christ with us.  

How can we tell the difference between these two types of people (besides how we feel after being with them)?   Scripture gives us a description of those that we will enjoy companionship with: they (like us!) will be pursuing righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace (2 Timothy 2:22). 

Consider for a moment the people (friends/family/co-workers/neighbors/strangers) that we enjoy companionship with, and then apply this verse to them and their lives.  My guess is that most (if not all) of them are pursuing righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace.

That's why it feels good (we enjoy companionship) when we are together with them!

If people are pursuing unrighteous living, unfaithfulness, hate, and war/unrest/dissension...let's be honest: they are no "joy" to be with.  Those people are (emotionally, spiritually, intellectually and physically) draining.  We do not enjoy companionship with them.  (And if we do...then we had better check out our intentions and how they align with God's definition of pursuing righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace.)

~~~

So...do it!  Plan it.  Schedule it.  Initiate it today. 

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. 
Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. 
Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.  ~2 Timothy 2:22

Let's make a plan and make the effort to enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts (2 Timothy 2:22).

~~~
I was debating (not) creating a get-together the other day, partially because life and some people had d-r-a-i-n-e-d me.  

But then God gave me this verse (Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.  ~2 Timothy 2:22), and I knew He was addressing me and my (possible) event.  

So, I did it.  

I planned and then enjoyed the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.  Each in attendance were pursuing righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. 

It was beautiful, uplifting, and encouraging.  These friends didn't suck the life out of me, they breathed life into me, and I pray: I into them.  

This is God's (positive and planful) will for us, and this is why the Bible instructs us to enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.  

(Almighty) God knows what blessings those who call on the Lord with pure hearts are to us.

(Omniscient) God knows what a blessing we, who call on the Lord with pure hearts can be to others.
Our Heavenly Father is aware of His children's need for community and spiritual invigoration.  

His advice for us today?  
 
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.  ~2 Timothy 2:22

~~~

When was the last time that we enjoyed the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts?  

Maybe it's time to.

Do it, today.  Plan it, today.  Schedule it, today.  Initiate it today. 

Pursue righteous living today
Pursue faithfulness today.
Pursue love today.
Pursue peace today.
Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts today
(2 Timothy 2:22)
 
Blessings,

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