DECEMBER 25 – Reading 359

by Albert Rosado | December 25

“SANTA WHO?”
(2 Peter 1:1 – 3:18; Jude 1-25)

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” – 2 Peter 2:1

When we were little, many of us believed in Santa Claus. We weren’t silly, we just trusted the grown ups who told the story. But as we got older, we learned the truth: Santa isn’t real. Believing in Santa when you’re a child doesn’t hurt anything. But believing wrong teachings as an adult can hurt us.

That’s what Peter warns us about in 2 Peter 2:1. Peter says that false teachers will come into the church quietly. They won’t look scary or dangerous. They may sound kind and wise. They may even use Bible words. But their message is empty, just like the Santa story. It promises something it cannot truly give.

Why This Matters

The danger is not in fun stories. The danger is when someone teaches ideas that pull us away from Jesus.

False teachers might:

• Make the gospel sound like self-help, 
• Say you can follow your heart instead of following Jesus,
• Promise blessings but never talk about sin,
• Talk about faith but leave out the cross.

These messages feel good at first, just like believing in Santa. But they lead us away from the truth.

Reflections:

• When you hear a new teaching, do you check it against the Bible, or do you just believe it because it’s coming from a reputable person?

   

• What is one way you can commit to “fighting hard” for the truth of the Gospel this week?

Application:

• Read the Word: Try to read one chapter of the Bible every day this week, asking the Holy Spirit to show you the clear, simple truth of Jesus.

   

• Ask This Question: When you hear something new, stop and ask, “Does this teaching make me want to ignore Jesus’s rules, or does it make me want to obey Him more?”

   

• Pray for Wisdom: Ask God to give you the wisdom to see the lies that are hidden.

Closing Prayer:
Lord God, thank You for Your Word that warns us about bad teaching. Please give me the wisdom and clear sight to recognize any lie, even when it looks good. Make my faith strong and help me stand firm on the complete truth about Jesus. Protect me from those who would twist Your grace and try to pull me away from Your authority. Amen.