Lent - Day 17

And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.  (2 Peter 2:3, ESV)

The Apostle Peter continues by warning us that false teachers and false prophets will be motivated by greed. Not only is being led astray by sensuality a danger, but also greed whether it is riches, fame, or power.

Pleasure, delight, wealth, and power are not evil in and of themselves, but apart from God we can inadvertently set them before us as our gods. We worship them by our pursuit and eager desires.

In our enthusiasm, we become false evangelists, false teachers, and false prophets. The Apostle Peter assures us that condemnation and destruction await those that lead others astray. We might not fancy ourselves as teachers, but when we love something we cannot help endorse it, tell others about it, and influence people’s decisions.

Above all else, let us not deceive ourselves, but be sober-minded about who we are and whose we are. Let us know God so well that counterfeit spirituality cannot exploit us.