Be on Guard

Scripture:
2 John 8 — “Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for., but that you may be rewarded fully.”

Observation:
In Second John, John was still concerned about the false teachers who were spreading untruths in the community of believers. John’s love for his fellow believers was obvious as he shared his concerns for them.  He warned them not to get caught up in these lies, to cling to what they knew as truths so that all that they had so diligently worked for would come to pass.
 
Application:
In today’s society, we do have false teachers who are out there contradicting all that the bible says but many times the devil doesn’t use such obvious tactics in our lives. As a Christian, I often think that I am “studied up” enough or “wise” enough or aware enough to not get caught up in these false teachings; now, whether that is true or not I don’t know but I do know that the devil knows us and he will use whatever he needs to get you to fall prey to sin. In my own life, he often attacks at my weakest point, right in my wound. He knows my struggles and he is so cleaver and cunning and covers it with excuses and lies and lays it out on that silver platter. He doesn’t put out prunes and sardines, he picks the finest, freshest strawberries and covers them in chocolate arranging them so enticing that often I bite and then later realize just how far I fell into his deceit. John warns us to today, to always be on guard. The devil uses all methods of deception to entice you to bite into the lie and swallow sin thus leading you off of your desired path.
 
Prayer:
Lord, you know our hearts and you know our desire to wholly serve you. Lord you also know what battles wage within us, so today, Lord grant me the strength and the wisdom to see evil as it approaches. To see it as it truly is and not to get caught in its trappings thus leading me off the path that you have for me. You desire only good things for me so help me to be alert, prepared, equipped to see sin for what is it and to turn the other way. Amen.

— Tiffany Fennell, preschool minister, Madison campus