Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. (2 Peter 3:17–18 CSB)
From the time I was a small child, my father taught me to always check everything I am taught in church with what the Bible says. He said to never take what a man says as the truth, regardless of who that man is, until you have verified what the Bible says.
My father and mother consistently modeled this before their children. I remember many times we would come home from church and during lunch discuss the sermon we heard.
It wasn’t too long, and Bibles started appearing so we could verify everything that was preached. Dad and Mom freely discussed with us whether they agreed with what our pastor taught that day.
I have continued to do that throughout my life. No matter how much I trust and admire a minister, I always check their teaching against what God’s Word says. This is the biblical action to take.
The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. (Acts 17:11 CSB)
This habit has developed two assets in my spiritual life.
- Greater faith in God’s Word
- Stability in my faith that comes from knowing what God says in His Word
Today I would like to expound on the second asset – stability. If you read the whole passage 2 Peter 3:14-18, you will find the apostle speaking of Paul’s writings. Peter is warning us in this letter of how untaught and unstable people will twist the Scriptures for their own benefit and destruction.
We are not to be led away by the error of these unstable teachers, but are to remain stable. How are we to remain stable?
Through grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is through knowing the Word of God that we remain stable in our faith.
Therefore, I urge you to fact-check everything you are taught spiritually against what the Word of God says. Compare other scriptures and verify the whole of scripture agrees with what you are being taught.
This is the only way you can remain stable in your spiritual life.
Prayer
Father, I thank you for your love, care, and devotion to me. Holy Spirit, lead and guide me as I study the Word of God. Stop me and alert me if I am ever subjected to false, wrong, or misleading teaching. Lead me down the path of Truth so that my spiritual life and faith will be stable. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Additional Scriptures:
1 Corinthians 16:13; Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 40:2; Romans 16:25
This is an affiliate link. If you click on the graphic and buy something, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. That is how I maintain my website.
Christianbook Distributors
This is my favorite source for everything Christian. I have ordered from them with great satisfaction for over 20 years. If you need it, they have it.
- Bibles: Every translation imaginable
Books
Commentaries
Concordances
VBC Supplies
Bulletins
Communion Supplies
Pastor Resources
Bible Studies
- Gifts
Music
Movies
Journals
Children’s Books and Bibles
Toys
Stuffed Animals
Software
Clothing
