“Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 CSB
If you’re mom was anything like my mom, she was always on you about who you hung out with as a child. My mom drove me nuts, God forbid I hang out with anyone who might get me into trouble. I would love to tell my mother the truth I have learned, we’re all bad company. I would love to tell her the only person who is not bad company is Jesus. Every other person on this earth, they are all bad company, including me. One day I will tell her when we meet again in heaven, until then, I’ll tell you. That is literally the point of God’s love for us, He knows that. He knows how corrupt we all are, He sent Jesus to save us from ourselves. We’re all bad company, Mom; all of us but Jesus.
Have you noticed Heather’s Monday posts? Every Monday Heather posts a random question. She does this intentionally to get you guys talking to each other, she wants to help you get to know one another better. That is why she always makes them fun and light, nothing heavy. I love them, I think Heather has a unique gift for doing them. Today’s was a favorite movie and why. I posted “Gone with the Wind” because I have always wanted to be Scarlett, yet the scene I mentioned in my post was one of grace. For those who haven’t seen the movie, it’s set in the old south in the Civil War era. The story revolves around Scarlett O’hara, the most beautiful belle in all of the south, spoiled rotten. She is in love with Ashley, who is married to Melanie. At one point in the movie, she throws herself shamelessly on Ashley. Now Scarlett is also married, but her husband knows her for exactly who she is. When he finds out, he dresses her in a red dress and takes her to a gathering at Melanie and Ashley’s house. Picture it, everyone knows what you have done and you’re about to come face to face with the truth. For the first time Scarlett thinks about someone other than herself as she looks in the sweet face of Melanie. And you know what Melanie does? She walks across the room with open arms and welcomes Scarlett into her home. That my friends, is a true follower of Christ, that is a friend.
Ironically, I had never seen the movie that way before today. Becky commented on my picture. As I was responding to her, I realized something. I realized, when I was younger I always wanted to be Scarlett, but now that I’m older, I want to be Melanie. Scarlett was beautiful, all the boys were in love with her, she lived in a mansion with servants all around her. Who wouldn’t want to be her? Melanie was plane jane, her marriage was arranged, she had nothing compared to Scarlett. Why would you want to be her? I thought the answers to those questions were fairly obvious, but now I realize, they aren’t I wasn’t answering them from a spiritual perspective, I was answering them from a worldly perspective. I didn’t realize until today, I want to be like Melanie because she is most like Christ. There is nothing about Scarlett’s behavior that is like Christ, but Melanie there is. Melanie’s Christlikeness comes from her actions, not her words. I want my actions to speak louder than my words. I want those actions to be actions of love. I want to be like Melanie.
