In December 2018 we adopted a six-year-old German Shepherd from the pound. We named him Dresden. In May 2020 we purchased two puppies to keep him company. We named them Sierra and Jubilee. Since day one, the three of them have been a tightly bonded trio, and the puppies took to Dresden as their surrogate father. For the past four years the "puppies" follow Dresden's examples in deciding when to eat, when to go outside, when to come back in, where they sleep, etc. This morning, as I watched them imitating their leader's behaviors, the idea for this blog came to me. I started thinking about how the puppies emulate all Dresden does because of their great love for him and his love, gentleness, and care for them. They even respect his discipline, and never show anger when he "scolds" them but continue to show him love. The puppies respect Dresden as the leader of their small pack and have never tried to usurp his role as alpha and honor him as their leader.
How many of us can say the same for the One we claim to be the leader of our souls? Do we fight for dominance over the will of Jesus and refuse to respect and honor the rules of the Bible? Do we get angry when He tells us we need to change a certain behavior? Or do we do our best to emulate the person Jesus is (Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile [slyness or deception] found in his mouth. 2 Peter 2:21-22) and strive for holiness for a God that is ever-present (But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:15-16)?
Your primary leaders should be Jesus, God, The Holy Spirit, and the Bible. Yet, it is okay to have human spiritual leaders as well. That's why God raised up bold and moral people like Paul and Peter from the Bible, the late holiness preachers such as David Wilkerson and Leonard Ravenhill, and current people of faith like my husband, Mel. We need people we can see and hear and be an example to follow and show us the ways to righteousness and encourage us in our walks with the Lord (Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17.).
However, we need to be so very careful who we choose to lead us. While this seems like an obvious statement, too many people fall into the trap of never or rarely opening their Bible, but instead take their pastor's, family members', friends', or even the corrupt Hollywood's words and examples for what the Bible says on issues of sin. This does not make you any less accountable for doing something that goes against the Word of God. If you have access to a Bible, you have no excuse for not obeying what it says. As any police officer will tell you, "Ignorance of the law is no excuse." The below scripture, said by Jesus, says it all. When you follow the wrong ways of an ignorant or immoral leader, you will follow him/her straight to hell.
They be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Matthew 15:14
I am not so arrogant as to call myself a leader or to say you should follow me, with the one exception when I apply this verse to my life:
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
I am so very far from perfect, but I do my best to follow Christ, so in areas of reading my Bible, trusting God in all circumstances, spending time in prayer and praise, doing my absolute utmost best to follow the rules of Jesus Christ, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide me, yes, please follow my example. Again, these are the only areas in my life I would dare claim such a thing. I would like to emphasize, NOT I, BUT CHRIST IN ME! (I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20) For apart from Jesus, I would be living and walking in darkness! (Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:4-5)
I want to encourage you all to be so very, very careful who you imitate. Anyone can say they are followers of Jesus, but if he/she is not a living example of the Bible, they are a liar (He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:4).
Ask yourself these questions to determine if you should be following the person you consider your spiritual leader. Does he/she: watch or read ungodly entertainment, dress provocative, go to bars, get drunk/take drugs, listen to/dance to worldly music, have no problem with witchcraft/the occult/new age practices, swear, steal, lie, cheat, flirt with someone other than their spouse, bully people, backbite, gossip, love money, have sex outside marriage, look at pornography, think homosexuality is acceptable, or abuse people/animals?
While I write this, I am feeling compelled to tell you to do even better than try to find someone Godly to follow. Instead, quit being followers and start being the one who leads others to Jesus. Pray the Holy Spirit gives you the courage to be bold and take a stand for the Truth, even when no one listens or follows your example. And even when you are rejected by others. Study to know what the Bible says so you can be the light and show others the way and so you never lead them astray. (Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15)
As always, there is so much more I could say on this subject, but I will leave you with these verses from Ephesians. If you just read these verses, they should be enough to convince you not to follow the wrong leader, and/or to choose to be the right leader.
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:1-20
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