Who Are You Following?

Philippians 3

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Paul warned with tears to watch carefully who we are following and putting as an example before us.  There are those who 'appear' to be walking this Christian walk but they are not truly or fully walking the Narrow path that Jesus taught about. 

There are warning signs that reveal those who are not walking the straight and narrow way:

• Their belly is their god = they are weak in the flesh when it comes to food.  Food controls them rather them controlling the lust/wants of the flesh. They find it hard to fast and make excuses as to why they rarely do. 
• Whose glory is in their shame = they boast about their weaknesses rather than be ashamed of them. 
• Who mind earthly things = they are more wrapped up in the things of this world than the things of God. They talk the talk but they don't walk the walk. 

Paul warned with tears to not follow the example of such. Their end is destruction! It is the blind leading the blind! 

He admonished to find, mark, and follow those who were living a true Christian life and following the example Paul was setting.  

There are many who claim to be Christian, but claiming and being can be two opposites if that person is not fully living the Christian life by obeying and following the instructions, warnings, and admonitions given in the Scriptures.  We need to follow those who are following Paul's example as he followed Christ's example.  Paul took up the cross and denied his flesh's desires daily to follow Jesus. 

Examine closely whose example you're following.  Is it drawing you closer to Jesus? Or embracing the world more and making excuses for sin while still claiming to live for Jesus? Make sure you're on the straight and narrow way, and if you're not, it's not too late to make a course correction. It will be worth it in the end!