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Character matters. Maybe you’ve heard someone say that to you before. Maybe you’ve even said it to yourself! No matter where the phrase lands for you, the value of the statement remains. Everything about our lives will eventually change or fade. The way we look, the jobs we’re in, the seasons of life we’re walking through—it’s all subject to shift in big and small ways. But character? Character stays! When it’s all said and done, your character is there with you at the end of the day.

That’s why we have to heed Paul’s words here. We have to be careful who we keep close. If bad company corrupts our good character, then we have to be wise about who we let close enough to impact that character. Of course, this isn’t permission to surround ourselves with those who are just like us, or those who never disagree with us, or those we always get along with in life. Rather, it’s permission to put healthy boundaries in place with the people in our lives whose bad choices may impact our own character. This week, ask God to open your eyes to the way your relationships may be impacting your character. Then, ask for wisdom to know how to set a boundary and the courage to take the steps to set it.