Exodus 23:2a (NASB) “You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong….”
Any elementary teacher, staff or administrator, would completely understand just how important it is to NEVER allow just ONE student the right to go to the restroom at any given time, other than the designated breaks built into the school day. Case in point, I’m a school counselor and I’m teaching to a room full of first graders during my guidance class. “Sally” (fake name to protect the ‘not-so-innocent’) has asked to go to the restroom during my lesson. By the looks of her movements, this was an emergency. In these cases, you as an educator, have no choice but to allow it. So, I told “Sally”, ‘yes, come right back please’. Not even two seconds back into my lesson, I heard another student request a restroom break, and then another. I told the class that since it’s not an emergency, everyone will have to wait until their teacher returns to take them back to class. This seemed to quiet them, and all was well until “Johnny” decided to get up from the carpet, walk all the way across the room, rather slowly, to get a Kleenex. As fate would have it, five other “Johnnies” are now suddenly compelled to follow suit. What transpired next could only be described as a five-minute symphony of adolescent nose blowing, which allowed multiple turns for introductions and major solo pieces. Have I told you how much I love my job?!
It is so easy to follow others, especially when we see the advantages of their success. We want what they have and if we do what they do, it just might happen to us. But if we belong to Christ, what others have should not be our focus. Our way of thinking has got to change in order to see true success the way God intended for our lives.
In Matthew 15:13-14 (NLT), it says, “Jesus replied, every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted, so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.” Jesus is responding to His disciples after they were concerned about offending the Pharisees. It is very important to make sure who or what you are following is truly from the Lord. If unsure, ask God to reveal to you if this influence should be uprooted in your life.
Tonight while drinking coffee with a good friend I was reminded of Proverbs 3:6 (ESV) “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” Whatever we do, wherever we go, whoever we follow, it is vital to regard the Lord in our decision making. I have recently experienced the depth of that verse and just how important, and costly, a quick decision can be. By acknowledging God in all our ways, we are also giving God all rights to our outcome. Simple truth, but sometimes not simply followed.
As always, I’m learning right there with ya!
Thankful For His Grace,
Amy