“Show me your friends, I’ll show you your future.”
The phrase that has stuck with me since my teenage years in our local youth group.
Many of us are likely familiar with this statement, insinuating that you become those that you are around.
In total honesty, as a teenager I thought this was totally bogus… mainly because I didn’t like to be called out or feel conviction.
I mean, who does?
However, as I look back on my days in our youth group, I can remember desiring to be around those who came across to be more popular. It seemed like one could also become popular by association.
And maybe, just maybe, others would then desire to be around me.
But every action has a consequence.
The phrase I longed to deny validity of quickly become something I saw happening in my life before my very eyes.
Now, the people I surrounded myself weren’t drug abusers, alcoholics, or trying to force me to do something I wasn’t comfortable with. Our behaviors all changed subtly and by our own merit.
The more I found myself hanging around those who were negative in speech and action, the more I did the same.
The more I found myself hanging around those who found amusement in other shortcomings, the more I did the same.
The more I found myself hanging around others who didn’t value the Word of God as a source of life, the more I did the same.
The more I found myself hanging around others who compromised their morals for fun, the more I did the same.
The worst part was, I was unaware of my change of behavior. But those around me were not.
I had my friends, and they showed me my present. But, through mentorship and leaders who gave me tough love, I was reminded that it didn’t have to be my future.
Which brings us to the present day. My church is currently doing a 75 Day Bible Reading Challenge, and seeing as I have never read the Bible all the way through, I took on the challenge.
And today, as I read through the book of Exodus, I am reminded of how this phrase is not always one we have to take with a negative connotation.
"Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him."
Exodus 34:28-30
This might seem like a random place to pick up, so hang with me for a moment.
In this passage, Moses is in the presence of God, speaking with Him, and preserving all that the Lord is commanding for the Israelites as they wander in the desert.
After spending this intentional time with God, Moses returns to the Israelites unaware of the radiance that was on Him. But the Israelites saw it.
When we spend time with God, people will see the effects.
Now, our faces might not glow like Moses’, however, we will see the change in other ways.
Why is this? The presence of God brings transformation.
“We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”
2 Corinthians 3:13-18
The New Testament brings the good news of the new covenant, giving us hope solely in the redemption we find in Jesus.
And when we abide in the presence of Jesus, our veil is taken away, leaving only His radiance to shine boldly before us and in us.
Jesus brought freedom so we can walk in it. When we walk in His freedom, we can begin to change into His image.
This partnership, dare I say friendship, with Jesus takes consistency.
As we spend time in the presence of Jesus, we will begin to see ourselves being made into His image- it’s not one and done.
I think the best example is found in the transformational lives of the disciples who walked with Jesus daily.
Jesus can take our ordinary lives, our shortcomings, and our lack of ability and transform us into a reflection of Him, ready to give glory to His name.
I think as believers, we need to have a desire to reflect the character of Jesus, yet sometimes we ignore the practical steps it takes to get there.
We busy ourselves with work, hanging out with friends, hobbies, and others good things.
I believe Jesus wants those things in our lives, however the problem occurs when we prioritize them over growing in relationship with the Creator, the One who made us to live for Him.
What we put our time, energy, attention, and money towards (shoutout Granger Community Church acronyms), is what we will see reflected most in our day to day lives.
So, today I pose the statement: Show me your friends, I’ll show you your future.
To simplify this statement into a question… Who do you want to reflect now and into the days ahead?
Friends, let us be reminded of this truth- Jesus desires to be our friend.
And I don’t know about you, but I want Jesus as a friend- even it comes with sacrifices.
Any relationship is a choice that takes work, dedication, and intentionality- it’s our responsibility to see it through.
Songs for reflection, prayer, & singing:
"Been So Good" - Elevation Worship, Tiffany Hudson
"Friend in Jesus - Live" - CAIN
"Break the Bottle" - Tiffany Hudson, Steffany Gretzinger
"Close to Me - Acoustic" - Isla Vista Worship, John Jin Han
"Abide" - Kingdom Culture Worship
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