Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

I’m going to be talking about the false prophets and false teachers in 2 Peter chapter 2.  Who were these people and what was their agenda?  These people were liars and were basically trading the truth for a lie.  They were leading people away from the truth that they knew but had rejected.  They were secretly bringing in destructive heresies, and even denied the Master who bought them.  When this took place, many people followed their immoral ways and as a result the way of the truth was being maligned.

These people were like wolves in sheep’s clothing, not caring anything about the sheep, so instead of feeding the sheep they were devouring the sheep.  Instead of being like the good Shepherd, who was Jesus, they were like the ones who came to steal, kill and destroy.

Please read John chapter 10:14-19, “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not from this fold; those also I must lead, and they will listen to My voice. So there shall be one flock, one Shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life, so that I may take it up again. No one takes it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again. This command I received from My Father. Again a division arose among the Judeans because of these words.”   

Now think about this, Jesus was the good Shepherd who fed and protected and cared for the sheep, not like the wolves in sheep’s clothing in 2 Peter 2.  These people were brazen and arrogant people who did not tremble while slandering glorious beings.  These people were like irrational animals- creatures of instinct, born to be captured and killed.  They maligned what they didn’t understand, and in their destruction, they would be utterly destroyed.  They would be paid back for what they had done, evil for evil.

Now please read 2 Peter 2:13-22, “They will be paid back for what they have done—evil for evil. They consider carousing in broad daylight a pleasure. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceitful pleasures while feasting together with you. They have eyes full of adultery that never stop sinning, enticing unstable souls. They have hearts trained in greed—a cursed brood! They have abandoned the straight way. They have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he received a rebuke for his own wrongdoing. A dumb donkey spoke with a man’s voice and put a stop to the prophet’s madness. These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. The gloom of utter darkness has been reserved for them. For by mouthing grandiosities that amount to nothing, they entice in sensual fleshly passions those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption—for a person is a slave to whatever has overcome him. For if—after escaping the world’s pollutions through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Yeshua the Messiah—they again become entangled in these things and are overcome, the end for them has become worse than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after learning about it, to turn back from the holy commandment passed on to them. What has happened to them confirms the truth of the proverb, ‘A dog returns to its vomit,’ and ‘A scrubbed pig heads right back into the mud.’”

There may be some of these people around today, that are angry with God for something or other and are in positions where they can destroy the sheep instead of feeding them the truth and caring for them.  Some that knew the truth but abandoned it and are teaching lies because of their anger.  If they are, they need to repent, turning from their wicked ways and plead for God’s mercy, grace and forgiveness and God’s peace to be applied to them.  God seeks the humble and contrite heart, that He will not despise.

Enough said, I pray that this will be a blessing, help and encouragement to you.  May you have a super day today and may the good Lord bless you with His perfect peace, love and joy, and health and happiness.  May the joy of the Lord be your strength!!

The Prodigal Son

Question: The Prodigal son, is this you or possibly someone you might know, or has it been you at one time or other?  I don’t want to leave the girls out who could also be a prodigal daughter.  I have been guilty of this also, and what about the other brother in the story in the book of Luke, could this one be you?  I think, if we were honest, many of us may say we have walked in either one or the other brother’s shoes, or both of them at one time or another, so to speak.

In this story it seems like the prodigal son must not have been content in his situation, like many young people today.  It is kind of like the old saying, the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, just to find out when they jump over, so to speak, in many cases they are so wrong.  Contentment is a hard attribute to possess, it seems like so many of us have a hard time with being content.  Me, I seem to never be content with moderation.  I can go cold turkey, stopping many things, so to speak, for instance eating sweets, but if I get started eating them there seems to be no moderation, I just keep eating more and more.

Let’s get back to the story, this prodigal the younger son just wanted out, so he could do his own thing.  It sounds to me like he had it made.  I know this is just a parable, but Jesus knew how to tell a story like no one else and he always got his point across.  This story is about two sinners, and this story truly related to the sinners and tax collectors, also the Pharisees and the Torah scholars who were listening to Jesus.  To my way of thinking, both of these brothers were prodigals.  The younger one left, taking his inheritance from his father and went partying and spending all he had on prostitutes and wild living and the older brother was full of anger, jealousy, and pride.  But I want you to notice the father’s attitude toward both these sons; he showed love, compassion, grace and pity along with forgiveness, just like God demonstrates to a repentant sinner.

You notice when the son came to his senses and realized how sinful he was, he repented and started back home where the father looked for him daily and when he finally saw his son coming, he ran to meet him.  And think of this, in that culture in order to run he would have had to pull up his garment and expose his legs which would have been a very shameful thing to do.  The father in this story must have loved his son so much that nothing was going to stop him from getting to his son, plus it was a time of rejoicing.

Now think of what God went through for us, providing a sacrifice for all who would repent, turn from their sins to him and put their trust in Him!!  And think of this, this sacrifice wasn’t just an animal this was God’s beloved Son Jesus. Now what does God’s word say in Luke 15:7, “I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one repenting sinner than over the ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”        

What rejoicing and joy took place that day.  Now think of this, the father, when he ran to his son, when he saw his son a long way off did this, he fell on his neck and kissed him then the son said to his father, “I have sinned against Heaven and in your presence I am no longer worthy to be your son.”  Then the father said to his slaves, “quick bring out the best robe and put it on him.  Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fatted calf and kill it!  Let’s celebrate with a feast.  For this son of mine was dead and has come back to life, he was lost and is found.”  Then they began to celebrate.

This was truly a joyful time, a time of celebrating and rejoicing and having a super time.  Now just think of this, God provided for all the human race, which at one time were all prodigals from the time Jesus walked the earth until the present time, praise his holy name.  

Now think of the older brother, what was his response, it sure wasn’t love.   Please read Luke 15:25-30, “Now his older son was out in the field. And as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called out to one of the servants and began to ask what these things could be. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got him back safe and sound.’ But the older son was angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came outside and pleaded with him. But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look, so many years I’ve slaved away for you—not once did I ignore your order. Yet you’ve never given me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came—the one who has squandered your wealth with prostitutes—for him you killed the fattened calf!”

You see how angry the older brother got, and what seemed to me a jealous rage because his pride was hurt!!  Again, what was the father’s response, please read verses 31 and 32, “Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and everything that is mine is yours. But it was right to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead but has come back to life! He was lost, but is found.’”   

Just like God, the father in this story responded with love, mercy, compassion and grace.  And God reacts that way today when a sinner repents and turns away from their sins to God and confesses their sins.  So if this is you, the younger or older brother or someone who realizes that they need to get right with God you know what to do, ask the Lord to come in and to be your Lord and Savior and do what is already written, and if you are truly sincere I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what will happen.

Have a super day and may the good Lord bless each of you with His perfect peace, love and joy, and health and happiness!!

A Bad Day

Can believers have a bad day?  I believe the answer is yes.  As a believer, we can become very discouraged at times and even very negative at times and we also can become very intimidated and fearful at times.  If these things happened to the disciples who walked with Jesus, they can certainly happen to us.  

Not long ago I heard a man say that Christian’s never have a bad day.  I believe that if believers became perfect people at their conversion that may be true, but none of us fit that scenario; so, I believe that believers can have many of what we may call bad days.  If the disciples were living today, I think some if not all of them would agree.

Sometimes a bad day, as some would refer to it, would be brought on by our own actions or attitudes, or negativity and sometimes others may attribute to it or just the circumstances or situations we find ourselves in.  Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  You may say that we can overcome also which is the truth, if we are in the Lord, but overcoming may be a lot easier said than done.

The word tribulations can also fit in with trials and troubles that we will face, and don’t forget what Paul said about persecution, he said if you live a godly life you will be persecuted, which could be attributed to a bad day. There are many things that could contribute to a bad day, like a bad report from a doctor or a unforeseen car accident or a bad fall or a relative getting hurt, I guess I could go on and on but I think I got my point across.  Some believers may say that none of these things would affect them and result in what many people may say is a bad day.  That is between them and the good Lord, but I believe many would say they are having a bad day.

I do believe that some people have such a strong faith that they wouldn’t be near as affected as other believers would.  If you can say, as a believer, that you have never had a bad day, I would say thank and praise the Lord.  I would say even if you have had many days that you would say were bad days, praise and thank the good Lord anyway because He is worthy!! 

Enough said, I hope this has been a blessing and an encouragement.  May you and yours have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours with His perfect peace, love and joy and health and happiness and don’t forget to praise the Lord!!