Scripture Union Daily Discovery 3rd September 2020 – Lots To Be Done
TODAY’S TOPIC: LOTS TO BE AVOIDED!
Opening Prayer: Open Your Word to me today, Lord Jesus.
Read 2 Peter 2:10b–22
10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh[a] and despise authority.
Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from[b] the Lord. 12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals 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.[c] 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 Bezer,[d] who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
Scripture Union Daily Discovery 3rd September 2020
17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”
20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”[e] and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”
Footnotes
a 2 Peter 2:10 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verse 18.
b 2 Peter 2:11 Many manuscripts beings in the presence of
c 2 Peter 2:13 Some manuscripts in their love feasts
d 2 Peter 2:15 Greek Bosor
e 2 Peter 2:22 Prov. 26:11
New International Version (NIV)
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Reflect: Scripture Union Daily Discovery 3rd September 2020
Call to mind a false teaching of our own age. Does it make you angry?
You may feel that today’s “reflect” task is less than edifying! I am only following Scripture’s lead. This passage is entirely occupied with describing and condemning false teachers, their disgusting behavior and their dark destiny. The Bible does not “cherry-pick” sweet, comforting themes, nor can we if we wish to submit to God’s Word. The important thing for us is not how much we like this chapter. The key point is whether we can learn from these verses. We can.
Firstly, the passionate anger of Peter must give us pause. He shares with the other apostles a deep desire to keep Christian people pure in every way. Often through the New Testament, the church is viewed as the bride of Christ. (See, for example, 2 Corinthians 11:2.) Christ’s bride must be true as well as unblemished. God does not just disagree with differing opinions; he is righteous, and he hates what is false.
There is a real challenge for Christians here. We need to discern between those ideas which must be fought against and those issues which are not vital ones for Christ’s kingdom. Then we need wisdom as we find the best way to affirm the truth. Peter’s graphic imagery may not be appropriate in our contexts. However, we should share his heart for the truth.
Apply: Ask the Holy Spirit to show you if there are false ideas in your circle of influence which you should challenge—and how you might do so.
Closing Prayer: God of truth, show me how to combat the falsehood so cleverly shared by the world. May I ever cling to the truths of Your Word.
Through the Bible in One Year
Isaiah 1,2 / 1 Timothy 5
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