pEver had to deal with jarringly unhelpful people? The ones who just seem out to gatecrash, perhaps even compromising on others’ learning/peace/joy/safety because of the way they act. Often, these types are the brash ones, natural centres-of-attention, with infectious influence.br /
In Matthew 18, Jesus explains that His followers can be led off like wandering sheep (v. 12). A lot of the time, the sheep that skips off is led astray by the cat-calling (okay, we mixed metaphors) of those in the next field. It’s the draw of the convincing ones, who pretend to have all of the green grass under their hooves/paws/whatever.br /
Someone who’s confidently rebellious, whether out-loud or in more subtle, infectious ways, could actually be someone who’s in need. In need of a sense of purpose, identity, or just (not even being mushy here) friends. Prayer is a great starting-response to that, especially when it seems as though they’d be really hard to approach in a real, vulnerable way. In fact, whatever context this reading applies to you in, it’s massively-massively important to pray. Not just for the salvation of the person in question, but for the people they’re influencing. Be persistent with your praying, do it regularly, and keep looking for God to open up chances, and start softening hearts, to make it possible to actually talk to that person./p
pWhat now?br /
Read Proverbs 28:10. Use it to pray for anyone that might be leading someone else down the wrong path. Ask God to get right in the middle of that situation./p