“And He was giving orders to them, saying, ‘Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.’” (Mk 8:15)
Beware the influence of false teachers and the influence of those who abuse their power. Their influence will corrupt you.
This is a good reminder for us all to be discriminating on our associations. Bad company corrupts good morals, says Paul, and this is exactly how the devil brings many to ruin.
Beware the influence of the sinful world. Beware of the enticements of power and influence because there is always an undesirable hidden costs. Had you known in the beginning, you would have never gone that way.
I was thinking about the lackadaisical parenting today that ignores the importance of helping the children
in choosing their friends. Peers can have good and negative influences.
Before children go to school, they need guidance on who is a good friend and who is not. Parents need to sit down with their children to ask about their friends to see what they are like. Children will be forthcoming if we only take the time to hear. Astute parents recognize when their children are showing a new attitude towards them and their siblings and will probe until it is understood if the influence is a worldly peer. In these instances, the child can be coached to fight against this spreading influence or else the child can be encouraged to spend less time with the friend. If the child continues in a negative attitude and doesn’t seem interested in changing, parents have the duty of making the change for their child. Restrictions can be put in place. The goal is to bring the child’s attitudes back in line with Christian values. Enough on parenting.
Jesus warned about the leavening influence of sin. Anyone who ignores the danger is going to find out the hard way the danger they have subjected themselves to.
We need to walk in the light. Enjoy the influence of the Father of lights and the influence of the followers of Jesus Christ. Sure, be in the world and associate with it, but let your light shine so that you are the agent of change that brings God the glory.
A Conquering Faith 
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