Devotion 

True Prophecy 

Frances Taylor 

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.