In this modern day and age we are well aware that children must not talk to strangers. This is a sad occurrence, but one that is easily understood. We give this instruction to our children so that they will not be abused, kidnapped or molested in some way. Strangers offer children sweets or tell them lies so that they can persuade them to go with them. To protect our gullible, susceptible children from the wiles of the unsavoury we give this advise – do not talk to strangers!
Christians need to be given this same advise – do not talk to strangers!
John 10:14-16
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
NIV
There are unscrupulous, so called ‘Christian’ teachers who will not hesitate to teach falsehoods just to boost numbers in the meeting halls. They will teach whatever people wish to hear, whether it is the truth or not. They will do virtually anything to draw you away to ‘their church’, which is not really a church at all.
We must listen for the ‘voice’ of Christ and follow where the shepherd leads us. To do this we need to ‘know’ the Lord, we need to be able to recognise His voice and to do that we must study his Word. How else will we get to know Him? Our knowledge of the Word of the Lord is our only protection from falsehood and confusion.
Our saviour will lead us and protect us but only if we follow Him and only Him.
Once again, we do not intend to ‘run’ your life for you. The choices are yours to make, but you need to know all of the facts to make a good decision. Do not just accept what has been written, read the scriptures for yourselves and see what God has said.