Experts in Greed

 "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. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood!"

— 2 Peter 2:13-14

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

Peter spends twice the words describing the sin and the character of these false teachers than he does describing their destruction. As my blood begins to boil reading how terrible these corrupt and arrogant false teachers are, verse 13 finally brings justice and calms my fury. They will be paid back. God will bring justice. They will receive harm for the harm they have done. This really brings to light the consequences of false teachers' sin. The bride of Christ is harmed. I have seen this. I have had to work long and hard to rebuild trust that others have broken, to restore what others have torn down. Thank you, Lord Jesus, that You will bring the final retribution.

These false teachers aren't afraid to sin and pursue pleasure in the daylight. This is because they aren't hunting those who lurk in the darkness, already depraved by their own sin. They are hunting in the light, looking for one of God's own children to seduce and drag down into their pit of hell. They have practiced their techniques so thoroughly that they can spot the weak and unstable immediately and know how to expertly entice them with lies to entwine them in sin and error and greed.

Lord Jesus, but for Your grace I could have been one of them! Only because of Your rescue of my soul am I not using my God-given gifts and abilities to shepherd and teach in order to seduce and lie. Thank You Lord Jesus for saving mw from me! Now, may I use my shepherding and teaching gifts to rescue, heal, and restore those harmed by others.

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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