Be careful about former connections! - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
1 Corinthians 15:33

Be careful about former connections! If a new convert makes a good start, he will confess his Lord publicly and not retain his worldly friendships in their old form. However, it often happens that unbelievers wish to continue the social contact as previously and refuse to leave the believer alone.
The danger might arise later. If a believer's love of the Lord cools down and his walk takes a downward pathway, he may well return to people and activities he gave up at his conversion. Some entertain the fateful idea that they may get a hearing with their unbelieving friends and be able to influence them for the good, if they maintain that social contact. This is, however, a grave mistake! We shall not draw them upwards; they will rather draw us down. This is confirmed not only by experience, but also by Holy Scripture.
Jehoshaphat was one of the best kings of Judah, Ahab, on the other hand, the worst that ruled Israel. Nevertheless, Jehoshaphat made an alliance with him. What was the result? Could Jehoshaphat raise Ahab to his own level and say, "You have become like me?" On the contrary, Jehoshaphat said, "I am as you are." And this admission didn't even make him blush. Then came the campaign that cost Ahab his life, and Jehoshaphat was confronted by the prophet Jehu with a most honest message: "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD?" (cf. 2 Chronicles 18:1-3;19:2).
The sad consequence of this evil alliance was that Jehoshaphat's daughter-in-law, Athaliah, who was Jezebel's daughter caused unspeakable misery for Judah.
Today's reading: Proverbs 23:19-35