(1 Corinthians 5:11 NLT) I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don't even eat with such people.
Do you remember in high school being instructed not to date the immoral person, having the ideal that you could change them for the better? What about your friends you choose to hang out with? It’s because their constant justification for living the way they do begins to wear down your own resistance to sin and without realizing it you adopt their reasons for giving in to temptation. By walking into their camp you affectively allow this person to put blinders on you so you cannot see God’s direction any more. Instead we are to shine God’s light and be steadfast with roots that run deep next to His Living Stream. As we shine God’s light people will be attracted to you not the other way around. Paul made it very clear that coming in contact with this kind of person (the unbeliever) isn’t the issue he said, “You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.” but having this person in your inner circle, one who claims to be a believer, he goes on to say, “Don’t even eat with such people.”
As a believer you have been adopted into a kingdom unknown by the world. God paid a high price to be able to call you His own and we are to guard our hearts and keep them set apart for Him alone but when we listen to the counsel of the immoral person we turn our backs on the very One who died for us. The enemy is cunning and he knows a frontal attack would only brazen us and cause us to stand firm for what we believe but if he could send spies into our ranks he would eventually be able to turn us. The key is communicate with our Lord regularly asking for His guidance and help with where you should go, who you should see, even the smallest of things and He will be faithful to guide you. The moment you lose the ability to follow and hear His voice you should be concerned and if you notice not being able to hear Him when you are around certain people examine their lives to see if they are immoral. Paul also says, “But it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.” He wasn’t talking about judging people in other churches he was referring to people in your inner circle, he was telling you it is your job to guard your own heart so that it may remain soft towards the things of God.
