Tuesday 28 December, 2021

2 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.

Jesus had told his disciples that false teachers would come, telling people what they wanted to hear and twisting the truth and His teachings. Peter calls us to be aware of their shameful ways, lying, and greed as this is the path to destruction. I constantly rely on the Bible and Holy Spirit to guide and train me in the way of the Lord.

Our society is full of deception and lies. I am being led to believe that I must be the most important thing in life and that everything should be bent towards making me happy, safe, and complete. It tells me that I should be number one! The gospel quickly puts me back on course and guards me against the deceptions of our society.

Peter however is talking about something even closer to home: false teachers inside our faith. Those that pretend to follow Jesus but secretly introduce heresies, even denying our sovereign Lord. Let us follow Peter’s warning and turn away from false teachers. Trust in the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly for our Father knows how to rescue the godly from trials!

Lord, we pray for discernment against false teachers and those that bend your word and authority. Allow us to hold on to you and seek your will. Let us lean not on our own understanding but trust in you with all our heart. May we remain God-fearing, Christ-following, and Holy Spirit-filled. In your precious name, Jesus.

 Amen

Written by Sven Bessesen