Don't Pickup Strangers

 Years ago, we had more hitchhikers than we do today. It's not safe to pick up hitchhikers. Like one hitchhiker asks the driver, how do you know I am not a serial killer, and the driver says what are the odds of two serial killers being in the same car. I did pick up a hitchhiker years ago, I was about 19 years old, and as soon as he got in the car he had an epileptic seizure. At the time I didn't know what that was, and I drove immediately to the nearest hospital emergency room. It scared me. But Andy Stanley for the purposes of his message explained what a stranger is. Someone stranger than you. I like that definition. We are all flawed walking through this life. All of us have been born in sin. If we say we have no sin, we lie, and the truth is not in us. I think that is a good idea in going through life to associate with people less strange than we are. Find people we want to be like. When choosing a church look for good people, not perfect, there are no perfect people. When choosing a friend choose someone who has it together, someone farther along on the road of life, that you can learn good things from. We pick up things, actions, and attitudes from those we associate with. The Bible tells us to not form friends with angry people. Proverbs 22:24 (NLT), Don't befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people.   When I moved to Mississippi, I moved far away from everyone I knew, all family, friends, Church family, etc.  I felt I needed an accountability partner. I prayed about it, and I formed a friendship with an administrative pastor of a church. It's been maybe 8 or 9 years now, and I am so thankful for that friendship. I can learn from him, and I have. I looked at several people and did want someone that could help me. I hope the friendship is mutually beneficial, but I feel like I found someone better than me in many areas of life. It has helped me.  As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.  Proverbs 27:17(NLT). I have a group of men called Iron Sharpens Iron; we pray together every week.  We need to surround ourselves with good people that are trying to head in the same direction as we are. We need to be salt and light to the world around us but be choosy with those you allow close to you. When you pick a church be choosy, don't just pick the first one that accepts you. Through the road of life, don't pick up strangers. We can talk to people, even try to help them. If they drag you down open the car door and let them out.  Don't pick up strangers. God bless, LVZ.