“For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first” (2 Peter 2:20).

Beware of the entanglements of this world.  You have not been freed for licentiousness.  You have been freed to live into the life of Christ.  On the one hand, you may do as you please.  On the other, ask what is pleasing to the Lord?  Is a man to practice fidelity in love?  Yes, he can do things that break fidelity, but in love, one chooses the path that pleases the other and not just the self.

Lord, You know the enticements that lead to death.  You know those places where our hearts dwell in the wickedness of the enticements of this age.  Guide my heart and mind, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I may, by Your goodness and mercy, do what is good and right.  Help me overcome the temptations that would entice me into the defilements of this world in order that I may live in the love relationships to which I have been invited by You.

Lord Jesus, You have already overcome the world.  Lead me in Your goodness to live into the life You offer by faith.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You I have hope and a future even though in this world there is suffering, heartache and death.  Guide me, dear Lord, into the future You intend and the eternal life You have made possible through grace.  Amen.

“[P]romising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved” (2 Peter 2:19).

Have you noticed that the more people scream about wanting freedom, recourse, reparations, or the like, the more they seem to be in bondage?  Everything belongs to the Lord and apart from Him, there can be no peace.  True freedom and peace come from being in the Lord.  All other places are places of bondage.  Come into the Lord and do not be compromised by corruption.  Be the slave of the Lord (Romans 6:17-18) and of no one nor nothing else.

Lord, I do need to serve somebody.  Whether it is myself, a cause, or even swaying to music, obedience is built in.  But I am enticed by sin and swayed by the corruption of this world.  Lead me into true freedom so that I may walk humbly with You, my Lord and God.  You know what this takes, and You have already provided the means.  Guide me, Lord, in the way I need to go.

Dear Lord Jesus, You walked with Your disciples and saw them struggle.  Help me, Lord, to look only to You and learn how to walk away from the corruption of this world and into the life You have set before me and give me by grace.  Lead me this day to live in a way that is pleasing to the Father by doing what is right.  I am Yours to direct.  Let me not be directed by this world or its corruption.  Amen.

“For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error” (2 Peter 2:18)

How often are you tempted by the polished words of those who tell you to feel good about yourself?  Arrogant words that do not acknowledge the Lord of all life are spoken and believed.  Do not be deceived nor fall prey to those who speak such words.  Do not live in fleshly desire, but in the wholesome pursuit of all godliness in the hope that Christ alone gives.

Lord, You know where I have been enticed and snared.  You know what I need to be strengthened in the goodness of Your grace and mercy.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life that I may be guided and guarded by You into Your goodness.  Help me now and forever live into the life You have given me by grace.  Guide me to not be one who lives in error, but in the truth You have revealed.

Thank You Lord Jesus for doing for me what I could never do for myself.  Lead me according to Your goodness to know that in You I have hope and can live by the promises You have given me.  Guide me always to not react to my feelings with sensual desire, but with a sound mind that has been renewed by You in the grace You give.  Lead me into a wholesome way of living that I may grow in Your likeness.  Amen.

“These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved” (2 Peter 2:17).

What purpose is a river bed with no water?  What point is there to speak with no sound?  Why live if there is no life?  The contradictions of this age abound.  People wander like ghosts and think with minds that are in a fog.  Do not be led astray by the unthinking of this age but by the One who created you.  You have been called through His grace into a new life filled with living water.

It is so easy to fall into the pattern of the world.  Unthinking, but acting as if what is said has been thought out.  Reacting, but thinking that what I am doing is a unique response.   Help me, Lord, and keep me from plodding down the wide road that leads to destruction.  Lead me to walk the narrow path that You have set before me.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You alone is there hope and true life.

Lord Jesus, You have told us all we need to know.  You have called to us from the cross and for as many as hear Your voice and follow You, You have promised to conform us to Your image.  Help me, dear Lord, to see that in You is all hope.  Guide me in Your goodness to follow the way You have set before me.  Lead me in the truth in order that I may humbly walk with You, my Savior.  Amen.

“[B]ut he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet” (2 Peter 2:16).

There is a madness in this generation.  Many listen to their feelings and ignore the will of the Lord.  Do not be deceived.  The Lord is not mocked.  Be guided by the goodness and mercy of the One who created you.  You do not need to figure it all out.  He has revealed the truth to you.  He is truth.  He created all things and knows all that is needed.  Come into His presence and let the madness in you cease.

Lord, You know the repetitions of this age.  The same nonsense may be packaged anew and each generation has those who fall for the same garbage.  Help me see through the madness of sin and gain a contrite heart and willing spirit to come to You, my Maker, and be led to live my life as You have designed it to be lived.  Guide me in the upward way of salvation so that I may grow into the likeness of Christ.

Lord, You will use anyone who is willing to share the truth of the Gospel, even a talking donkey.  Lord, it is not a matter of being used, but of being useful.  Help my willingness so that I may be useful in living a life of love and service as You direct.  Keep me from the madness of this age.  Guide me in the eternal way of life.  Lead me according to Your purposes so that I may humbly walk in Your presence.  Thank You for leading the way, Lord Jesus. 

“[F]orsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2 Peter 2:15)

Scripture is not talking about those whom we would call purely wicked (are not all sinners?), but about those who follow their own lusts.  We think in terms of people doing what is acceptable in society, but a generation ago, many of the things we now call acceptable would have been considered outrageous.  Let us seek the will of our Father in heaven and live in the truth of the Gospel.

Lord, You know how slippery the slope is that spirals downward.  You have seen it over and over throughout the ages.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of life You have established from the beginning.  Help me to not take any of the false steps that spiral downward.  Guide me in Your goodness to live according to the principles of love and service You have established.  Lead me to live life as it is meant to be lived.

Help me, dear Savior, to look to You in all circumstances.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You is hope.  You have come so that I may have life and have it abundantly.  Lead me in that life to see that in You alone can I overcome what this world throws at me.  In You I can be conformed to the perfect image.  In You I have salvation.  In You I have hope.  Help me look to You always.  Amen.

“[H]aving eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children” (2 Peter 2:14)

There are those who may have decent manners in public but are a bundle of corrupt wickedness in private, seeking whom they may entice into doing evil.  Pride and arrogance do this to the soul.  Jesus came to rescue those who would be rescued, but there are those who will never be rescued.  We may not know who are whom, but do not let this lower your guard for the evil are always on the prowl.  The devil seeks whom he may devour.

Lord, without being either paranoid or uncompassionate, help me to be aware that there are those who will not seek You.  Let me know them by the fruit they bear in order that I may be aware of what others are.  Guide me in Your goodness to seek You with all of my heart and not be led astray through the deceit of the wicked one.  Guide me, Lord, in Your way of living that I may live according to Your purposes.

Lord Jesus, You paid the price so that all who believe might be redeemed to live a new life of love and service.  Guide me in that life so that I am aware of those who, by all appearances, will not live according to Your goodness and mercy.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to go and help me to not be hindered by the wiles of the wicked one.  Grant that I would be stable and firm in my faith.  Amen.

“…[S]uffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you” (2 Peter 2:13)

It is not politically correct, nor something people want to hear, but there are those who are wicked and love doing wickedness.  Yes, they are even in the church.  They are everywhere.  Do not think otherwise, because this is what Scripture is telling you and you already know it.  To compromise with the wicked is to compromise with the wicked one who rules them.  Seek purity, rather than “stains and blemishes”, always.

Lord, I find that I do love these people even though they do what is wicked in Your sight.  Help me to see that I do not need to be compromised by them to live faithfully.  Without being standoffish, teach me how to be firm in commitment while always being compassionate with others.  Guide me in the faithful way of living so that I see these things and do not live according to the world, but according to Your word.

Lord Jesus, You have called me out of the mess of this world to learn from You how to live faithfully.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the right way of thinking and living.  Help me to be compassionate and humble, yet always committed to the just and right way of doing things.  Let me not be compromised by those who practice wickedness but live by Your guidance and direction.  Amen.

“But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed…” (2 Peter 2:12)

Unthinking, just reacting, believing themselves to have intelligence, there are so many who are just like rats in a maze, not living, but responding with worldly thinking.  The Lord gives us the ability to think and reason that we may come to know Him and not be reactive but love Him with both heart and mind.  Do not follow the way of the world for it shall reach its own end in destruction.  The way of the Lord is salvation from destruction.

Lord, grant me wisdom to see the foolishness of this age.  Guide me in Your goodness to turn to the better way of living.  Help me through all circumstances to know that in You alone there is hope.  You have given me the promise of a future by Your grace.  Let me not just react to this world’s rebellion against You, but instead develop new insight to do what is right in Your sight at all times.

Lord Jesus, You have come that I may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I may now and always humbly walk in Your presence and with Your purpose in my heart.  Let me not be led astray by the wickedness of this world, but instead, live into the hope and promise You give through the salvation You have purchased from the cross.  Amen.

“Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties, whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord” (2 Peter 2:10b-11).

There are those who are bold in the wicked deeds of the flesh.  They think they are clever, but they reveal where their heart is through their deeds.  Don’t be enticed and led astray by such as these.    Instead, turn your eyes to the Lord and know that He has given you the words of eternal life.  Do not revile the things of the Lord, but rebuke the deeds of the wicked who lead others astray.

Lord, grant me wisdom and understanding so that I may be led by the truth of Your word.  Help me now and always to see that only in you is there hope.  You are the author of life and You know how it should be lived.  Guide me away from the temptations of the flesh so that I may walk humbly with You, my Savior, saying and doing that which is pleasing in the Father’s sight.

Heavenly Father, You have sent Your Son to enable all who believe to walk in His power and become like Him.  Guide me in the way of Christ in order that I may look to You through Him and avoid the wickedness of this age.  Lead me this day to not worry about tomorrow, for You alone know what is coming.  Help me always to look to You, seeking to do what is pleasing in Your sight.  Keep Your Spirit dwelling richly within me.  Amen.