Devotions: Be Steadfast And On Guard

You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

2 Peter 3:17-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

In this chapter, Peter talks about Jesus’ return and the New Heaven and New Earth that will come after the destruction of the old. He asks what sort of people we should be since we know that what is here will be destroyed to bring on what is new and holy, since we are looking forward to eternity with Him according to His promise. Our conduct should be holy, our pursuit godliness, diligently peaceful, spotless and blameless. He also warns that there are false teachings spread by those who are unstable, who do not know or understand the scriptures and distort the difficult passages. Therefore we need to be on guard. We need to be careful that we do not allow ourselves to be lead astray by false teachers, by every exciting idea that comes around. We need to remain steadfast, unshakable in our faith. We also need to grow in God’s grace and knowledge. Notice these cannot happen at the same time; growth and being carried away. They are opposite and one cannot have both. We cannot have what is of God if we are lead away from Him. That is why it is so important to stand firm. We need to find true teachers with a solid foundation in the Word. We need to check everything we hear (even from them) with the Word to make sure what is said is accurate. Above all, we need to be in the Word, reading, studying and meditating so that we have a firm knowledge of what it says. Then we will be able to spot false teaching immediately, without having to look it up. That is the best safeguard we could have. All glory belongs to God. If anyone is trying to gain glory for themselves through teaching, preaching or miracles, beware. A true teacher of God, someone who displays His true gifts, will give God the glory. There are many false teachers out there. Beware. Do not let yourself be led astray by fancy teaching or emotions. Think clearly and have your knowledge grounded solidly in the truth.