Good morning! Have you ever seen a magic show or watch someone try to do a magic trick? Sometimes you asked “how did they do that trick? or how did they make something disappear?” Other times you saw how they performed the trick. In order for a magician to become proficient in tricking the crowd or you, they must practice. However, in order for you to recognize the trick or find the evidence of the trick you must watch closely for the magician’s tricks. Today, we will continue to read in 2 Peter where we will read about chronic deceivers. Enjoy today’s reading and your day.

BIBLE VERSE – 2 Peter 2:12-16 NLT
“¹² These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed. ¹³ Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals. ¹⁴ They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God’s curse. ¹⁵ They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. ¹⁶ But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice.”

REFLECTION
The author of 2 Peter continues to explain the depth of immoral behavior that the false prophets were leading people into. He mentioned their chronic sin and how through their sin they had become experts in greed and in enticing new believers in the faith (those without firm footing) to sin. Yet, the false prophets evil desires/sins were never satisfied.

Sisters and brothers, in this world we are constantly bombarded with the same type of people and situations. It is easy to go along with the world and be lead astray by false prophets when we are not grounded in our own faith and by our own personal convictions, yet the author reminds us not to wonder off the right road.

Maybe today, you find yourself struggling between right and wrong, temptation and truth, greed and poverty, or sexuality (outside of marriage) and abstinence. I don’t know what you are struggling with or who is pressuring you to pursue a life contrary to the word of God, but I want to encourage you to stand firm in your faith. Remain focused and connected to the Lord. The book of James says it best in James 4:5-10 NLT,

“⁵ Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. ⁶ And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

⁷ So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. ⁹ Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.“

Questions to Ponder:
• Are you ready to come closer to God? _______

• What do you need the Lord to help you flee from today?________

PRAYER
Father God, thank you for your word today. Thank you for your mercy on our lives. Thank you for the forgiveness of sins through Christ Jesus. Lord, today we come humbly before you asking for forgiveness of our sins. Lord, we ask for you to remove the enemy from our midst and to strengthen us in our personal walk with you. Lord, cause the enemy to flee from us. Lord, surpress or remove our desires (e.g., greed, dishonesty, etc.) that are not in alignment with your word. Lord, protect us from chronic deceivers. Lord, we ask that you remove anything that is not of you from within us – purify us. Lord, may those changes within us be evident in our relationship with others, in our attitudes, our behaviors and our daily lives. Lord, we want transformation in our lives, begin with us today. We trust you and give our lives and plans to you today. Lord,we ask for your Holy Spirit and Heaven’s Armies to move across this world. Lord, protect the innocent and get them to safety. Destroy and confuse the plans of those who are causing harm and destruction. Lord, we pray for those in other countries and ask that you shield them from the storms ahead and help them to rebuild things that were destroyed. Lord, we pray for dear friends and strangers who are suffering from medical illnesses, Lord heal them. Lord, comfort those who are grieving. Lord, we pray for the husband who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Lord, we pray for him to know you and accept you as the Lord and Savior of his life. We pray for his spouse and ask that she may know you and surrender her life to you. Lord, touch their family and help them during this difficult time.

In Jesus name, amen.

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