One of These is Not Like the Other PART 4 “Known by the Company We Keep” (THRIVE Service)

Parents tell their children, “Be careful who your friends are.” “If you play with pigs, you both get dirty.” “You’re known by the company you keep.” “Stay away from those kinds of people. They’re nothing but trouble.”

It’s based on the concept of “guilt by association.”

There is an old Middle Eastern Proverb that says, “I saw them eating and I knew who they were.”

Jesus was aware of the proverb. He seemingly just didn’t care. Much to the chagrin of his own followers and much to the ire of religious leaders, Jesus made a point to sit down with people who were considered unclean. He ate with people most of the world wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. Jesus is different. He is the One who is not like the others. He calls us to be different. And it goes against the grain of everything we thought we knew about life.

In the real world, we’re known by the company we keep.

In the kingdom of God, we’re known by the company we refuse to keep.