Millions of Americans enjoy watching football. In football the quarterback calls for the ball to be snapped on a certain count. If a teammate runs forward before the ball is snapped, the referees call a penalty. If the same player does it often enough, the coach will take him out of the game – because you can’t keep playing if you make it a practice to run ahead before the ball is snapped.

The Bible’s rules are not unlike those of football. Jesus is the quarterback and we’re the players. He calls the plays and he’s the boss. Those who think they know more than Jesus and try to “run ahead” of him cannot keep doing it and claim to be a Christian. Listen to how the Bible says it, “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of [Jesus] does not have God.”