Who you have in your life matters, especially when it comes to friendships. There are even some who are currently in relationships they just aren’t sure about. I have made many mistakes over the years when it came to who I let into my life. There are different attributes that I have learned to scrutinize. What does their character look like when no one is watching? How do they treat other people? Are their priorities for the fleshly desires of this world or for the spiritual commerce in the heavenly realm? The primary focus is, what is their relationship with Jesus like compared to mine? I pray over what is written in *2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally bound together (yoked) with unbelievers [do not make mismatched alliances with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?* I have come to understand that the people who I let into my life can not only affect my immediate situations, but also my eternal destiny. There are a few other important idiosyncrasies I look at on a more personal level. Are their words uplifting and life-giving? What kind of prayer life do they have and do they pray for me, pray with me, but also pray over me? Are they devoted to the word of God and encourage me to read my Bible regularly? Ultimately, do they help draw me closer to Jesus or draw me away from Him? As I look at my own character I contemplate the words of Charles Spurgeon, “Do I live as carelessly and worldly as unbelievers while professing to be a follower of Jesus? If so, I am exposing Christianity to ridicule and leading people to speak evil of the holy name by which I am called.” It takes a great amount of courage to be able to say good-bye to someone who has meant a lot to you in the past but who is not on the same path and stepping stones toward heaven as you are. Relationships without the fear of God can be a fearful mistake. One last thought, make sure that those who you walk with are not just wanting to do great things for Christ, but also desire to make sure they are doing those great things in and with Christ. Beloved, may we all make godly choices that not only affect our lives but also all those we come in contact with. Amen.