based on the Love God Greatly Study, Triumph over Trials / w6d3
THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)
Scripture: 2 Peter 2:17-22 and SOAP: verse 19
These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness. 18 They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. 19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. 20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. 22 They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”
2 Peter 2:17-22 NLT
Clearly, we must be careful who we choose to hang with and/or follow and what habits we choose to take up.
Peter has been warning the people about false teachers that would arise among the body of Christ. Here, he is still talking about the men mentioned in verses 11-16, whom he had compared to “irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed,” and as those who would “suffer harm as the wages for their harmful ways.” He described them as those who were carousers in broad daylight, saying they were stains and blemishes, indulging their deceitful pleasures. Not only did they “have adultery in their eyes,” he said that “they never stopped sinning and enticed others who were unstable.” They had forsaken the righteous path of God and chosen to follow the unrighteous ways of Balaam.
Peter’s words are a warning that we would be wise to take note of. They are almost haunting yet – full of wisdom for sure. His words are a reminder that it becomes more and more difficult to walk away from sin the longer we are in it – for once we have “trained” ourselves in the unrighteous ways. by making a habit of chasing fleshly pleasures and giving in to the temptations – they become a way of “life” to us, and we wake to find ourselves living the life of a slave. We are captivated and then captured by the desires, and we are trapped (or enslaved) by the fleshly pleasures and the desire for more – until it is all but impossible to escape.
LIVING THE JOURNEY (APPLICATION)
We must be careful with what we watch, see, hear, and get involved in—and who we get involved with—so that we are not enticed by the words of the unrighteous, “false teachers.” We must remember that the promise of earthly pleasures will never outweigh God’s presence and promises of heavenly treasures.
This kind of Christ-centered life requires us to:
stay on the alert –
not succumb to the unrighteous pleasures of this world
stay true to God and not turn back from the holy command, which bibleref.com explains as “the gospel, the command to trust in Christ.” —
Question FOR THE JOURNEY
Has there been a time in your life when the temptation of sin promised satisfaction but only left you feeling empty and unfulfilled? What did you learn about God during this season?
PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY
“Dear Lord Jesus, guide us away from the empty promises of this world. Fill our hearts with Your truth, that we may find true freedom in You. Strengthen us to recognize and resist those who would lead us astray.” – Amen
THE MORE WE KNOW
Explore verses 19-21
19. https://www.bibleref.com/2-Peter/2/2-Peter-2-19.html
20: https://www.bibleref.com/2-Peter/2/2-Peter-2-20.html
21: https://www.bibleref.com/2-Peter/2/2-Peter-2-21.html
Be sure and check out today’s LGG blog for even more insight
Me From the Inside Out 