I was having coffee at McDonald's when I noticed a man walk in who was holding a white cane. He had his hand on a young boy's shoulder and appeared to have complete trust in his ability to guide him.

Jesus spoke about leaders who couldn't be trusted. He called the religious leaders of His day "hypocrites" and "blind leaders of the blind" (Mt. 15:7-14). The scribes and Pharisees were teaching man-made traditions, not God's commands (vv.3-9).

Today many voices are crying out from radio, TV, and the pulpit: "Follow me! I have the truth." It's a cacophony of confusion that often leads people astray. The apostle John anticipated such a time when he wrote, "Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God" (1 Jn. 4:l).

How do we "test the spirits"? By asking these questions: Does the teacher's life reflect the life of Christ? Does the teacher proclaim salvation by grace through faith--not by works? Reliable teachers and leaders will always point us to Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life (Jn. 14:6), and not to themselves. Otherwise, they are merely blind leaders of the blind.

Let's choose with great care the leaders we follow.  — Dennis J. De Haan