Blemishes

DEVOTION

JUDE

BLEMISHES

Jude 11-13

11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion. 12 These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm — shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted — twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

NIV

More condemnation upon false teachers and it surely is as true today as it was then. It has to be about warning us to be aware of this kind of predator. Yes, it is historical, but the Word of God is as relevant today as it was in the day it was written. It doesn’t take much investigation to find people who match up to this description. Many of them have already been exposed for what they are and some of them have even ended up in prison because what they did was not only morally wrong in the sight of God but illegal in the sight of man. But there are still others who prey on the weak minded, weak spirited believers. They send out their appeals by the fistful, using all sorts of tear jerking reasons to send them money. It is evident these people live a lifestyle of luxury on the backs of the ill-informed believers. Again we need to be vigilant in our walk with God, making sure we are not catch in the snare set by these hunters of the weak. Silver tongues, smooth words, large smile and promises of prosperity are just a few of their slick tricks to separate their prey from their money. There is no justification for their sucking the very life from others for their own personal gain. We cannot tolerate this kind of individual within the body of Christ; they should be expelled from fellowship, in hopes of bringing them back to a rightful relationship with God. We cannot hate them, although it surely seems Jude held no words back regarding their evil ways. Exposing them may be the only way to bring them to repentance. But is also would be great if we could in some way help those who fall victim to the schemes of these false teachers. Have we the church failed these poor souls? Have we not taught them the truth? Perhaps they have never attended the real church and have only been digital victims, hiding within the walls of their own homes. But still is they a way we can reach out to them, helping them to see the truth? One thing is for sure, we cannot afford to be taken in by these shepherds that only feed themselves. They are blemishes.