DAILY BIBLE DEVOTION

 

TRUE PROPHECY

Peter is warning the people against

false teachers and false prophets.

There were false prophets among

the Israelites and there would be

again. Men, then, and men and

women today who would lead

people away from the will of God

in order that they might exert

influence over the leaders of the

times to achieve their own ends. In

ancient times, the prophets

worked to bring the people back to

living as God wanted them to live.

The false prophets wanted to keep

their jobs as the favorites of the

kings and kept telling them not to

listen.

Today we have many false teachers

as Peter predicted who try to turn

the words of Scripture to their own

agendas. These people have often

called for hate instead of the love

which Jesus asked for. They have

called for vengeance instead of

forgiveness or mercy. They bring

about division instead of unity. The

true teacher will be attentive to

the word of God and do his or her

best to make Jesus law of love more

visible in today's world. These

teachers are truly moved by the

Holy Spirit and do not try to

reinterpret Scripture, but to

faithfully proclaim it.

PRAYER

Lord, we, too, can fall into the trap

of taking passages out of context to

serve our own purposes. Please let

us be guided by the Spirit

whenever we proclaim your word.

Amen.