2 Peter 2:17-22 New International Version (NIV)
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,”[a] and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”
Fri. December 18
Yesterday’s “devotion” might have been a little harsh, but Peter is being harsh! He does not want anyone to be led astray by false teaching that seems to be Christian, but is really a “waterless spring” and a “mist driven by a storm.” Seemingly “new” teachings will, as Peter notes, “always promise freedom.” This happens all over. If you just do “x” then you will be free! All of it is something WE do in order to save ourselves. All of it. As Peter writes: “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, [now] they are again entangled in them and overcome.” We like the idea of the free gift of forgiveness from Jesus, but in daily life we keep going back to our own “vomit” of belief in ourselves, trust in our own ability to save ourselves and anything other than Jesus that promises freedom. Sometimes the truth is harsh! But Jesus forgives!