Consider yourself warned. The evil one is lurking, using crafty people to deceive and throw us off our path toward God. I could end this reflection right now because that truth seems even more real in our day. It’s hard to imagine the corruption Peter and his contemporaries would have faced.
Today we see the division erupting in the United States. There have been differing viewpoints from the beginning of time, as well as crafty lies being spoken and believed. Remember the garden and the serpent spewing “wisdom” to Eve? It’s hard to believe we still haven’t figured out how to outsmart the evil one.
Peter speaks of false teachers who infiltrate our communities of faith. I don’t think he’s talking here about misguided people in general. Take a moment to think about your church. What is being preached from the pulpit? Are the messages Biblical or worldly? Are you challenged to be more Christ-like or to simply accept the narrative to be “politically correct”?
Pray for your pastor because he or she is hearing the same distorted truths being spewed about in the world. Pray they have holy discernment and can avoid the crafty lies of the evil one. Remember, the devil exists to separate us from God, and the best way to do that is to create fear, hate, doubt, and division.
For years, we’ve all witnessed a decline in family life. Why? Because of the busyness of life. I remember scurrying from one activity to another when the kids were small because that’s what you did as a “good” parent. I exposed my kids to so many different things so they could be ready to live a productive life. It is a “crafty” lifestyle trap. Jesus should have been the one non-negotiable.
A faithful leader should be like Noah, unafraid to warn about “God’s righteous judgment.” Noah wasn’t popular, but he was faithful and rewarded by God. Likewise, God rescued Lot “because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him.” I can identify greatly with Lot, can’t you? I want God to see me in the same light as Noah and Lot.
Does it help to be reminded that God “condemned them long ago”? False teachers have an unfortunate destiny ahead of them. From the way Peter describes these false teachers, their attitudes and actions will only snowball and become worse with time. It’s our job to pay attention with discernment so we don’t innocently fall for their crafty manipulation. The evil one can and will use those in authority to distract us from God.
Pray for your pastor and church leaders. Pray that they don’t fall prey to the lies of the world and fall down the slippery slope of worsening sin. Pray for your own discernment to realize when false teachers are leading you astray and stand firm on the truth of Scripture.
Let’s pray. Father, I am troubled to think there are false teachers among us who seem trustworthy and yet seek to distract me from you. I pray for pastors around the world whom you have chosen to lead your flock. Help them, and me, to stay focused on your Word and your truth alone. All of us are caught up in our own sinfulness. Protect us from the crafty influence of the evil one. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
