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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise I praise you today and exalt your name, for by your divine power, you have given me everything I need for life and godliness. I received these things by coming to know your Son, Jesus Christ, the one who called me by his own glory and goodness. You have given me your great and precious promises, and through them, I share in the virtues of your divine character (2 Pet 1:3–4). Praise the Lord! Today in Your Word Today you shared with me Peter’s “second letter,” most likely written to the believers in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) who had been the recipients of Peter’s first letter. Peter had written previously concerning the hostility and persecution the believers were suffering from those outside the church, and he encouraged the congregation to stand fast in the faith. Peter now wrote concerning the theological and moral heresy the believers were facing from those within the church. The threat came from false teachers who had once been disciples themselves! They had experienced the salvation of the Lord, they had been “bought” by him, and they once knew “the way of righteousness” (2 Pet 2:1, 20–21). Yet they had forsaken the right way, they had denied their Master, and they had become “entangled again” in the “defilements of the world” (2 Pet 2:1, 15, 20). This teaches me that it’s possible for a believer to fall away from the faith. I must be on guard against the temptations of pride, greed and sensuality, for they are just as real today as they were in Peter’s day (2 Pet 2:10, 15, 18). The false teachers dismissed the apostles’ eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ ministry as myths, questioned the truth of Scripture, denied the second coming of Christ, and twisted Paul’s teachings into error (cf. 2 Pet 1:16, 21; 3:4, 16). This teaches me that I can recognize false teachers by what they say. They deny your Word and teach their own ideas instead of the Spirit’s inspired truth. The false teachers also exploited the church, enticed those who were weak, despised authority, and encouraged others to indulge in the passions of the flesh. This teaches me that I can recognize false teachers by what they do. They refuse to be holy and insist that your grace is a license to sin. Peter knew how dangerous these false teachers were to the church, and he urged his readers to be diligent to grow in grace. From the beginning of his letter, he called on them to add to their faith the spiritual character qualities of virtue, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. If they would practice these things and make every effort to increase in these qualities, they would be safe from apostasy and their calling and election would be secure (2 Pet 1:5–10). Reflection Peter said that “whoever lacks these qualities” is ineffective, unfruitful, short-sighted, blind and has forgotten that they were cleansed from their former sins (2 Pet 1:8–9). Have I made it my goal to attain these qualities? Am I determined to be increasing in them every day? Request Father, help me to live a life of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God. I want to be diligent to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with you (2 Pet 3:11, 14). Thanksgiving Thank you for the assurance that you “know how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment” (2 Pet 2:9). Hallelujah! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “More Like the Master” – Charles H. Gabriel. Meditation Verse: 2 Peter 3:9.