They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. ... They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.” [2Peter 2:19,22 NLT]
When I think about the idea of being controlled by something I think of addiction. There is a tendency in our culture to regard addicts and addiction in a pejorative light. We often are not merciful when we consider the topic. Unless the addiction is something more resembling a Christian addiction ... I mean habit. ツ
Peter warned about false teachers in his time. Have you ever wondered about what a false teacher looks like in our day? Could it be someone who promises grace and then, like the Pharisees, impose regurgitated religious rules on their followers? Or could it be preachers who invite followers to experience the love of God and then teach people to return to habitual judging and gossiping about addictions not similar to their own?
Teach us Lord to be teachers of love who are not controlled by our addiction to judging others.
... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on the epistles of Peter.
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