October 8, 2021
Don’t Follow the Crowd
Arlene Pellicane
Today’s Truth
Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd (Exodus 23:2 NIV).
Friend to Friend
A few years ago, I got a speeding ticket on my way home from the grocery store. I remember telling the police officer I was very sorry, but I was speeding for a good reason. My son really needed to use the restroom and my daughter was overdue for a nap. Those are good reasons, right?
I got the ticket.
I appealed to mercy but I got justice…and that’s okay. I got what I deserved. I had broken the law. Have you noticed lately how many drivers are blasting through red lights? Speeding down the road going way too fast? Ignoring stop signs? My oldest is about to get his driver’s license and I’m constantly telling him to “drive defensively” because there are some crazy drivers out there. Traffic laws are in place to keep us safe.
Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.
Just because something is becoming more common doesn’t make it less wrong. God gave the nation of Israel laws through Moses to keep them safe. Mosaic law is found in the first five books of the Bible, the most famous being the Ten Commandments.
Today’s truth from the book of Exodus reminds us “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 was a prohibition on people allowing themselves to be led astray by large groups or majority opinion.
It’s part of human nature to follow the crowd, to cave under pressure. Of course, peer pressure can be positive. When the crowd is doing good, that’s great. If you feel like skipping your small group at church, but you go anyway because you don’t want to disappoint your friends, that’s positive peer pressure. But when the crowd is leading you away from godly principles, that’s dangerous.
Have you ever done something questionable in a group that you would have never dared to do alone? The Bible warns us in this verse to be careful of the crowd. We all want to be liked. That’s probably why we sometimes bend our morals to be accepted in a group. We would rather blend in than stand out. The alternative is much harder: Stand up for what is right even if it’s contrary to popular opinion. You might end up standing alone.
My kids tell me about the colorful variety and frequency of curse words they hear at school. Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.
Social media is filled with hateful comments and indecent images. Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.
Your friends are dropping out of church and enjoying some extra free time instead. Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.
Others tell white lies to get ahead. Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.
Whenever we realize we’ve been following the wrong crowd, we can make a change. Sometimes it means finding new close friends or watching different television shows. The Bible warns us not to be misled because “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33, NIV).
After getting my speeding ticket, I opted to attend driving school. At the end of the class, we played Jeopardy to review. One of the questions was, “What’s it called when you’re driving down the street and you turn to go in the opposite direction?” Can you believe the woman in front of me passed on that question? I saved my team with the answer, “U-turn.”
If you’ve been heading in the wrong direction with the wrong crowd, today is a great day to make a U-turn. That’s a maneuver God always blesses!
In what areas of your life are you tempted to follow the crowd? Click on the comment button and let’s compare notes.
Let’s Pray
Dear God, I know there is a broad way that leads to destruction and a narrow way that leads to life. Help me to choose Your way always. Thank You for leading me and revealing any lies that I may be believing right now. Cause me to walk in Your truth.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What is one time that you followed the crowd and regretted it?
Take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to show you any lies you are believing from the crowd right now.
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© 2021 by Arlene Pellicane. All rights reserved.
Originally published Friday, 08 October 2021.
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