May 10, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Freedom that isn’t Free!

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Father, thank You that I am Your child. Speak to my heart, inform my mind, lead me today.

Read 2 Peter 2:10b-22

[10] This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh 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 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. [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, 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. [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,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

Divisive opinions or teachings can result in the moral and spiritual destruction of those who accept them.

Peter continues with the same argument that we engaged with yesterday. He is deeply concerned that the people of God are not led astray (18) or enslaved (19). He suggests that men and women who are in leadership roles may easily appeal to “lustful desires” (18). He cites the story and experience of Balaam as a warning and a model of disobedience. You can read about Balaam in Numbers 22-24. This prophet of God had an incredible supernatural gift that was exercised via a deeply corrupt character. There is a difference between spiritual gift and spiritual fruit. Spiritual fruit is developed through character, while gifting can come through a single impartation. Fruit always comes through a slow process of development.

Peter agrees with Jude (11) that the trap for Balaam and the warning for us all is the love of money. It caused the prophet to walk in disobedience to God. Peter warns that putting money or stuff or indeed anything else at the core of your life will not only destroy you–it will have the potential to enslave and lead astray those who are close enough to get hurt by the fall-out of your disobedient life. He goes further and suggests that the freedom that flows from disobedience is not freedom at all but rather it is enslavement.

Today, realize that freedom comes from binding yourself to the man of freedom, Jesus. It comes through obedience. 

Apply

If it was revealed, what would be discovered at the core of your life? What has Jesus asked of you? What does that demand of you today?

Closing prayer

Father, I pray against those who teach error and confusion to Your children. May their voices be silenced and Your truth prevail.

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