Following The Crowd

At 13 years old my best friend and I went to Carowinds to see Leif Garrett. Leif sang, "if I were a carpenter and you were a lady..." we all screamed "YES!" Then he sang, "would you marry me" and all of us screamed "YES!' The next line, "would you have my baby?" My friend and I looked at each other, embarrassed, and did not say anything! We watched all the girls yelling YES! We were the minority. Maybe it sounds silly now but I remember it like it was yesterday.

At the moment, there was no time to think or discuss but because of what had been instilled in us, we knew not to follow the crowd. Exodus 23: 2, " Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd..." This is not just an issue for youth - this is an issue for adults. We crave other's acceptance so we give in to temptations. Plenty of adults give in to social pressures trying to keep up with others on so many levels and that can be exhausting. When we desire to honor the Lord we want to do what He desires, no matter what others think.

The Spirit, living inside of us, will empower us to follow Him and not the crowd! We need to pray for our desire to honor God to be stronger than any need for human approval. 1 Peter 2: 9, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." We are chosen! We are His special possession which means we BELONG to Him! What better crowd to be in! It’s time to stop trying to please others and live for the One who loves us the most!