Saying no?

~Friday for Friends~

"When I first became a Christian, I was saying no to everything: No to drugs, parties, my old friends, everything. Pretty soon, I was a total loner. I felt like the weirdest creature on the face of the earth ... Then I figured it out. Hey, I have to start saying yes to something. I mean, no is a good place to start but being empty doesn't satisfy. So, I started saying yes to Jesus." -Todd, A Whisper and a Wish

It is a good idea to say no to things and people that constantly bring us down, inciting us to sin. (Although we are the ones technically responsible for each sin).

"If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell." Matthew 5:29-30 (ESV)

Yet Jesus Himself spent time with sinners, telling them of the amazing Good News. 

It's a delicate balance for us. Are our friends influencing us to sin or are we influencing them to learn more about God? Each relationship requires deep prayer and trust on God's guidance. But, whatever happens with our friendships, whether we say "yes" or "no" to each of them, we always need to say "yes" to God.

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Mark 1:35 (NIV)

How about you? Do you have friendships you are unsure if you should continue or not? Do you spend time with Christ, asking about those friendships or just talking and listening to our Savior?