READ
REFLECT
Competitors are constantly seeking ways to enhance their performance and achieve success. They follow various paths and strategies to improve their skills, gain knowledge, and stay ahead of the competition.
By continually pushing themselves to improve, competitors can achieve more and reap the benefits of their hard work.
However, if competitors fail to stay focused on a specific path, they risk becoming distracted and losing sight of their potential. When competitors become distracted and lose focus, they expose themselves to destructive forces that can significantly limit their ability to perform at their normal level.
Sometimes, competitors may lose sight of their goals and become disoriented, much like a ship lost at sea. Like a ship without a compass or navigational tools, competitors who wander off their chosen path may struggle to find their way back to where they were before. However, with perseverance and a willingness to seek guidance, competitors can regain their bearings and chart a course to success.
We also need to be aware of false teachers that can lead us to wander. In Matthew 7:15, it reads, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”
Later in Matthew, we learn how effective these fraudsters will be. “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
How can we avoid wandering and being led astray? We need to know God’s Word. That means more than casually flipping through the Bible. To know God’s Word is to study His teachings, communicate with Him through prayer, and live in a way that exemplifies Christianity.
By doing these things, we can stay grounded in our faith, be better equipped to discern truth from falsehood, and follow the path God has set.
RESPOND
1. Commit Matthew 7:15 to memory.
