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Others Are Watching


          Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. (Proverbs 10:17)

          When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself. Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.” (Ezekiel 3:18-21)

          President Obama once said that elections have consequences. All decisions have consequences. If you choose A, you can’t choose its opposite as well. You can’t, for example, walk north and south at the same time. Another consequence of decisions is that others see those decisions. Most importantly, those who are most influenced by you see those decisions and your success or failure. 
         For a long time, people understood that they were being role models. There was a time when people felt so pressured to be role models (sometimes, under a contractual obligation) that they told the world they didn’t want to be role models. Now, there are some who want to be role models again, but the role they want to play is one of hatred and disrespect. 
        Today’s passage is all about being a good role model. Our actions, whether heeding discipline or ignoring correction, are seen by others, and they influence others. If you are on the road to life, others will see. They may not join you, but you’ve shown them. If you ignore correction, others will also see you, and they may follow you.

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