RPG Adults
STIR UP YOUR MINDS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
2 Peter 3:1-2
Psalm 56
“…thou in faithfulness
hast afflicted me.”
STIR UP YOUR MINDS
Peter was deeply concerned that God’s people might forget the truth, especially concerning the last days. He again stated that the purpose in writing this second epistle was to “stir up” our minds (2 Pet 3:1). It is important to remember that there will arise in the church men who will endeavour to lead the flock astray.
With this danger in view, we find many warnings concerning false prophets and teachers throughout the Scripture. The prophets of old were one in warning against non-biblical teachers and their practices. They challenged God’s people to uproot and drive from their midst all such heretics. Jesus spoke of the false Christs and prophets which would arise to attempt to confuse the church in the latter days.
Despite all the warnings, the people of God have generally been slow to act against false teachers. Even today the church is filled with a spirit of toleration. There seems to be little or no awareness of God’s warning against such complacency.
False teachers bring great danger to the church. Not the least of these dangers is the leading astray of those who are untaught in the Scripture. False teachers in Bible colleges and seminaries lie in wait to convince impressionable young people that it is not “intellectually honest” to see the Scripture as inerrant or God’s truth as absolute.
In these difficult days it is important to allow the Holy Scripture to “stir up” our minds and build up our courage to do that which is right. Unity which overlooks the false teachers in our midst is not Christian. Such action will lead to the shipwreck of many souls. May the Lord stir us up to take a stand against those who would destroy the testimony of the church and lead astray those for whom Jesus died.
THOUGHT: Of what danger was the Apostle Peter warning in this passage?
PRAYER: Father, may Thou impress on every one of us that unity which overlooks false teachers in our midst is not Christian unity.