Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. – Matthew 16:12
Tomorrow will be a month since I have started getting up early to pray and read the Bible. I finished the book of John and I have been reading from Matthew. I start with a passage, not a whole chapter, then I read the Enduring Word commentary on the verses so that I better understand the lesson of that passage. Today, I read Matthew 16:5-12 where Jesus warns his disciples to avoid dangerous teaching of the religious leaders.
I cannot say that I have been following other religious practices outside of the Christian faith, yet I have been hearing God tell me to beware of the influence of non-believers. The most recent advice a Christian friend of mine gave me was to not associate with non-believers. I have not heard from him in some time, as he went to Hawaii for a while after his career transferred him there. Yet, I hold those word with me as a reminder. For a while I thought it strictly meant that I could not be friends with anyone who did not believe in Christ as our savior. though I am now beginning to understand the true meaning. Instead, do not associate with the characteristics of non-believers, or do not let them influence your choices. You can be friends with anyone, but always keep Christ first.
I have to think this is the same lesson Jesus was teaching his disciples here because he knew that man's religious law made sense to most people in that time. The scriptures show that he wanted to warn his disciples that the habits they had were menial and took your focus away from the Father. He wanted them to be led, not by their own desire to look holy and close to God, but instead trust God to provide the sanctification they needed.
Today, I pray that God helps me avoid being influenced by the world, and renews my mind so that all my focus is on him. To not associate with non-believers may very well mean that you can no longer have non-Christian friends, but if you do, God calls us to beware of the things we allow ourselves to be influenced by. Jesus warned his disciples and the warning still stands.
May the Holy Spirit guide you to see the things that are influencing you in any direction beside toward Christ. Beware of these things and be led by the only one we know is right; Christ.
