Day 3 of 5: Choose Your Flock

🦅 The people around us influence what we believe is normal, possible and acceptable. Choose relationships that encourage you to soar.

🕊️ Day 3 of 5: Out of the Cage — A Faith That Soars

📖 Scripture

1 Kings 12:30 (KJV)

“And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.”

🪞 Reflection

“Birds of a feather flock together” is more than a familiar saying. It describes the power of influence.

The people around us shape our conversations, expectations and decisions. Their attitudes can strengthen our faith or encourage our complacency. Over time, we often begin to accept what our environment repeatedly presents as normal.

First Kings 12 records how King Jeroboam allowed fear to shape his leadership.

He worried that the people would return to Jerusalem to worship, so he created substitutes.

He made golden calves, established alternate places of worship and told the people that following his system would be more convenient.

His compromise did not affect him alone. It became a sin for the entire nation.

Influence always travels beyond the person who begins it.

That is why we must pay attention to our spiritual environment. If every voice around us encourages comfort, excuses compromise or mocks courageous faith, remaining spiritually passionate will become increasingly difficult.

This does not mean we reject people who are struggling or only spend time with those who agree with us. Jesus calls us to love and serve everyone. However, we must be wise about which voices receive the authority to shape our lives.

Ask yourself:

🦅 Do the people closest to me encourage spiritual growth?

🗣️ What voices have the greatest influence over my decisions?

🚪 Are my relationships calling me out of the cage or making captivity comfortable?

🪞 Am I helping others pursue God, or is my example encouraging compromise?

Healthy spiritual relationships remind us of God’s promises when fear becomes loud. They challenge us when we begin to settle. They celebrate obedience and encourage us to keep moving forward.

Look around at the people with whom you are flying. Are they content to remain tame and comfortable, or are they pursuing everything God has for them?

Choose your flock carefully—and become the kind of friend who helps others soar.

💡 Your surroundings do not determine your destiny, but they can influence the direction of your life.

🎙️ From the Sermon

Pastor Norman used the image of birds flocking together to emphasize the power of our environment. He also pointed to Jeroboam’s influence in 1 Kings 12, showing how one person’s compromise can lead others away from God. The people closest to us should encourage faith, obedience and spiritual growth.

🙏 Prayer

Father, give me wisdom concerning the voices and relationships influencing my life.

Surround me with people who will strengthen my faith, speak truth and encourage obedience. Help me recognize any influence that is making compromise seem acceptable.

Make me a faithful influence as well. Let my words, choices and example encourage others to draw closer to You.

Amen.

✍️ Today’s Action

Prayerfully consider your closest influences.

Then complete these statements:

One person who strengthens my faith is:

One voice or influence I need to limit is:

One person I can encourage in their walk with God today is:

🦅 Out of the Cage: A Faith That Soars — Day 3 of 5