Contemplative Bible Reading

Exodus 34:15-16 (New Living Translation)

15 “You must not make a treaty of any kind with the people living in the land. They lust after their gods, offering sacrifices to them. They will invite you to join them in their sacrificial meals, and you will go with them. 16 Then you will accept their daughters, who sacrifice to other gods, as wives for your sons. And they will seduce your sons to commit adultery against me by worshiping other gods.

Don’t mingle with those folks who believe in things contrary to the true God. That is pretty good advice. That is pretty strong advice.

Application today? Well, uh, er, this becomes complicated quickly. It is real simple if you and that girl you grew up with in Sunday school are married and have a bunch of kids you bring to Sunday school so they marry other Sunday school kids. Sure is. Otherwise, well, sigh.

People influence other people. Am I influencing that person for God or is that person influencing me for something else? Should I marry non-Godly people so that I can show them the Godly way? How can I show them God if I don’t mingle with them?

Yes, this becomes complicated quickly. Please God, help us, guide us, care for us.