Who We Follow

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL FRIDAY JULY 19, 2002
(JOHN 13:15)

I have given you an example to follow: do as I have done to you.

Who we follow. I have a major concern who our young people look up to and just as important, who adults try to emulate in their life. Let me say right up front, if you follow the life of any person, they will ultimately let you down. NOBODY IS PERFECT. That is why in the past I have done Devotionals on not following a man, but THE MAN, Jesus Christ. He is the only one that lived this life perfectly. But it is perfectly natural that in our life we adopt role models, people we look up to. I will only say to be careful, and do not base your faith on how someone else chooses to live their life! Our faith must be based on the ONE who died for our sins, Jesus!

I have been very sad the last week or so due to the choices that NBA superstar Allen Iverson has made, since I know many young adults, especially young African American men look up to him. It is alleged that Iverson kicked his wife out of their home naked in the middle of the night. It is alleged that he then went to his cousins home looking for her, breaking in and threatening those who lived there with a gun. Even more outrageous to me, has been those who defend Iverson by stating that his actions were nothing more than "baby mama drama", and Allen just being "real". Hello???? I have also heard Iverson praised in the media for marrying the mother of his children. I am sorry, but in God's plan, you get married, THAN have children!!!!! Being "real" does not mean you live like a thug, but like Jesus!!!!

For anyone that is married (I have been for almost 20 years), you understand that there will be conflict from time to time between a husband and wife. I would NEVER dismiss it as "baby mama drama" but as something all married people go through from time to time and work out. Kicking your spouse out of the home stark naked in the middle of the night is NOT part of that process! Breaking into someone's home, allegedly with a gun, is NOT part of that process. This is not only criminal activity, but NOT the way God would have you conduct your business.

Just as distressing to me were the national sports reporters and those in the media who dismissed Iverson's behavior for the horrible message it sent to our children. In essence, they said that as long as you are a superstar athlete you can get away with any type of behavior. Even more sad, are the corporate sponsors that Iverson has a business relationship with, who exploit his outrageous behavior, and remote that type of behavior to our kids as acceptable in order to sell their product. People of faith, those who know God MUST not only call what he did unacceptable, we must tell our children that this is NOT the way to conduct their life!

THIS IS WHY I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT PARENTS MUST BE ACTIVE IN THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN. Issues like Iverson MUST be discussed in the home, and parents must make sure that their children understand WHY this is not acceptable behavior. I can tell you from personal experience, that I know of several people right now, spending over 30 years in prison because they watched the movie SCARFACE and wanted to be like the Al Pacino character. PARENTS, DO NOT EVER UNDERESTIMATE THE INFLUENCE THAT TV, THE MOVIES HAVE ON YOUR KIDS. FIND OUT WHO YOUR CHILDREN LOOK UP TO!!! YOU MAY BE SHOCKED TO FIND OUT IT IS SOMEONE LIKE ALLEN IVERSON OR THE RAP STAR OF THE DAY!!!!

I love you and care about you so much. I will pray for you today. There is only ONE role model for ANY of us to have. That is the one we worship, the one that we have given our lives to, Jesus Christ. He is the ONLY ONE who has lived this life without sin. THAT is who we should pattern our views after. To use a sports hero, or even a man or woman of God as our role model, is only setting us up for disappointment. MAN WILL FAIL! JESUS WILL NEVER FAIL! If you are looking for someone to follow, make it JESUS!

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at bkeller@liveprayer.com.

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