Your Tribe Creates Your Vibe

So, a question: who are the people you hang with; those whom you invite into your inner circle; those who influence how you live, how you think, what you believe? Who are they and what impact are they having on your life? Back in the 5th Century BC, Alcibiades was a brilliant Athenian statesman and general – handsome, gifted, well-connected. He was even mentored by Socrates, so he had every opportunity to live a virtuous life. Yep, the guy showed immense promise. But he fell in with ambitious, reckless people in the political circles of Athens and Sparta. His growing thirst for power and approval led him to betrayal, as he switched sides multiple times during the Peloponnesian War. Although he was once admired, those compromises with questionable allies ultimately led to his demise, costing him his reputation. The wrong company pulled him far from the wisdom that Socrates had tried to instil. And that's a scenario that's been replayed countless times down through history to this very day. Good people are ruined by bad company. But the opposite is also true. Back in the 1st century AD, in the early church … Acts 2:41-42 … those who received his word were baptised, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.  (ESV) This Spirit-filled group of radical love attracted people daily. God shaped their character through community, and they went on to change the world. The truth is that ultimately, for good or for bad, your tribe creates your vibe. The people you hang out with are, in the end, who you'll become. So hang out with the right ones. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.