DEVOTION
THE 2ND LETTER OF PETER
EXPOSING BLOTS AND BLEMISHES
2 Peter 2:10-16
Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial
beings; 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do
not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the
Lord. 12 But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are
like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed,
and like beasts they too will perish. 13 They will be paid back with harm for
the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad
daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they
feast with you. 14 With eyes full of
adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts
in greed — an accursed brood! 15 They have left the straight way and wandered
off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.
16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey — a beast without speech —
who spoke with a man's voice and restrained the prophet's madness.
NIV
These words of Peter are not very uplifting as far as a devotion for
our lives. He is not mixing any words or holding back any condemnation for
those false teachers who have infiltrated the church in Colossae. He calls them
brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born to only be caught and destroyed.
Those are harsh words, yet it would seem those who pervert the gospel message,
even to the point of denying the truth of Jesus Christ, are but brutes who
crave their own pleasures. Peter calls them blots and blemishes. He says they
are experts in greed. Again, we can see these same types trying and being
successful in infiltrating the church today. They have gathered followers by
the hundreds, in some cases, but the thousands. How can people, who think they
are believers in the Lord, sit beguiled by these silver-tongued perverters of
the gospel? Yet, these words of Peter are a good warning for us to be ever vigilant
and always perceiving and discerning through the power of the Spirit. These men
are so sleek, so persuasive in their words, both those spoken from their pulpits
and in the plethora of books they flood the market with. Peter warns us again
and again against such men. This is not to say all preachers and authors are
false teachers, but we have to be very careful as to who we listen and read. God
has gifted us with his Holy Spirit so we can discern false teachers from the
true messengers of the truth. Again, we are aware of the pattern Jesus as set
forth in being the Good Shepherd. We have had this pattern given to us even in
the Old Testament, such as the 23rd Psalm. It so clearly shows us
the pattern of a shepherd, or today we call them pastors, who lead those who
God has given to them, or the sheep, the flock, the congregation, into green
pastures, which is, of course, the word of God. The scriptures, the truth, is a
green pasture, a place we may find the true food that sustains our soul. The
true pastor, shepherd, lead his people to still waters, the quiet calm that
rest the soul in Christ, the spring of living water. When there is any form of
chaos, that disturbs the flock, the shepherd restores their soul. There are
peace and security in the care of the shepherd, he goes before his sheep,
searching out anything that would do them harm. He lays down in the gate of the
sheep pen guarding against any wolves that would kill and destroy his sheep.
All this is a picture of the beloved church under the guidance of the Spirit. Those
wolves are out there and their aim is set on the weak and the young who have
yet to understand the truth. Let us always be about the truth and help those
around us to see the truth and hold fast to it. This is the call of the Lord
upon all those who know the truth. To be steadfast and to lift each other up,
build each other up until we all reach the unity in the faith. This includes
exposing those brute beasts, those blots, and blemishes.
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