Reading: 2 Peter 2:1–3
Consider your time as an elementary school student. Do you remember much of it? I sure don’t. And yet, during that time was laid the foundation for the rest of your education. You learned to count, the alphabet, to read and write, and all the other basics. Imagine if you had a teacher that taught you the alphabet incorrectly or a different sequence of numbers. Imagine if subsequent teachers reaffirmed that incorrect teaching. It would change your entire life. Think about all of the tasks you do every day that involve reading or numbers. False teaching is destructive, and it has a way of sinking in.
The same is true of our teachers in the faith. Do not surround yourself with false teachers. False teaching has a way of sinking in. You also have a responsibility to be a teacher of the truth. Raise your children in the truth. Share the truth with your neighbors. And if it be your calling, preach the truth to God’s people. Woe to those that would mislead them!
Prayer
God of truth, Your Word is truth. Hinder and foil all who would attempt to distort this truth, that we may remain steadfast in Your Word. As those gifted with the truth, empower us to share Your truth with the world around us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Hymn
In these last days of great distress
Grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness
That we keep pure till life is spent
Your holy Word and Sacrament. (LSB 585:2)
Joseph Highley (Sem IV, CSL)