2 Peter 1-3

While 1 Peter deals with troubles from outside the church. The second chapter of 2 Peter deals with false teachers within the church. 

I’ve been told the best way to recognize counterfeit money is to intensely study the real thing. A person who does, will then be able to immediately spot the fakes. To be able to recognize false teachers, it’s important for us to immerse ourselves in God’s Word and ask the Holy Spirit to provide discernment.  

Matthew 7:15 tells us, “ ¹⁵ Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”

Most of you have likely heard the story of the old Cherokee grandfather who was teaching his grandson about life. The grandfather told the boy that there are two wolves, one evil and one good, fighting a battle inside every person. When the boy asked which wolf would win the battle; the grandfather told him it would be whichever wolf a person fed.

I was surprised to learn that this popular version of a Cherokee legend was first published in a 1978 book called The Holy Spirit: Activating God’s Power in Your Life, by Billy Graham. He admitted that he invented this version of the story for a sermon. The original legend is quite different.

I believe Billy Graham was illustrating the fact that there is a spiritual battle going on inside each of us. What things we choose to do and to allow into our lives will either “feed the evil wolf or the good wolf.”

God not only sent Jesus to die on the cross so that we could be forgiven of our sins and adopted into his family, he also sent the Holy Spirit to help us make wise choices in life. Which wolf are you feeding?

2 Peter 1:3 should be an encouragement to all Christians:  “ ³ His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”  

Knowledge of him and relationship with him will allow us to spot any who might attempt to lead the flock astray.

Elsie Shepherd