2 Peter 3:17-18a
“You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
It is so sad to observe someone who once had a fervent faith and trust in the Lord slowly draw further and further away from Him. I have tried to analyze how this could happen and I think I have some idea.
It seems that some individuals are drawn to some spiritual leader to feed them. I guess that is good, as far as it goes, but there is also a danger. It is all too easy for one to focus on the words of a teacher instead of the Word of God.
If the spiritual leader leads their students to feed for themselves it is good. On the other hand if there is no effort made to teach personal bible study it is bad. It would be like a new mother never weaning her child. Our churches are filled with bottle fed believers who make no effort to dig into the truth of the word on their own.
My heart’s desire is to have those under my teaching to mature to the degree that they surpass me in spiritual knowledge and total devotion to the precious Word of God that is able to provide eternal growth.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil