Be Careful Who You Follow

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

Senbere Teferi was just 150 meters away from winning the Peachtree Road Race and defending her title as champion, but then she took a wrong turn. She thought the police motorbike she followed was headed toward the finish line, but it led her to third place instead. The mistake cost her the title and $7000. in prize money.*

Her story reminds us of a very important principle: following the wrong person will lead you astray. That’s true in a race, on a trip, and in our spiritual journey. We must constantly keep our guard up and ensure we live by biblical guidelines. Just one wrong turn, and we’ll find ourselves off course, in sin, and filled with regret.

Paul told the Corinthians to follow him because he was following Christ. If Paul is indeed the author of Hebrews, he would later write:  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1). Who we follow, and who we run with, has a tremendous impact on our lives.

May I encourage you to consider these two questions honestly:

(1) Are you following the right people?

(2) Are you a person that others can follow?

Dear Heavenly Father, Please give me wisdom and discernment concerning who I follow and imitate in life. Help me to identify those who love You, those who will lead me to be like Jesus, and those who will help me to finish well. Also, please help me be the type of person others can follow. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

*https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a44450947/senbere-teferi-peachtree-road-race-2023/