You Know Better Than That!

"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen" 2 Peter 3:17-18

When I read these two verses this morning, other verses came to mind, and so did my mother's voice. In fact, I remembered her voice so clearly this morning, that I laughed within myself.  Even as I share her words with you, I can still see the look on her face and hear the tone of her voice.  As a little girl, (and sometimes still today!) I will choose to do something wrong, instead of doing what I know to be right.  When I chose to do wrong rather than what was right, and when my sin found me out by my mom, (I was always found out!) she would say, "Why on earth did you do that?  You know better than that!"

I can almost picture Peter admonishing the beloved in the same way.  Peter closes his epistle with a word of warning in verse 17, and encouragement in verse 18.  He tells us to beware, or to be on guard and not to be led away or astray by the wicked. (the world and evil influences).    Psalm 1 warns us not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, not to stand in the way of sinners and not sit in the seat of the scornful.  So, how can we be on guard? By reading God's Word, by praying, and by having friends who love the Lord and keep His commandments.  (Psalm 119:63) When we already know what is right and what is wrong, we are prepared for what lies ahead and prepared to make right decisions, instead of poor choices.

Beloved, because we have the indwelling Holy Spirit, and because we have the Word of God, 'we know' what is right and what is wrong.  We don't have to live our lives unprepared, and we can remain stedfast!

We know better than that...

    When we grow in grace...

        And in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ...

            But that's just me!

"Before one can know what is right and wrong, he must first align himself with God. Only then is one in a position to do right." Billy Graham