Thought for Wednesday, March 27th

March 27, 2013

Scoffers

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

2 Peter  3:3-14

“When a man is unable to understand a thing, he ridicules it.”

-       Leo Tolstoy

What is a scoffer?

According to the Webster’s Dictionary, “A scoffer is a person who shows contempt by derisive acts or language.  To scoff is to treat or address with derision: To make a mockery of or to mock.”

In short it is to make a laughing stock or joke out of someone or some thing.

As Christians we know there are many who make a joke of our faith and a laughing stock, by their jokes and anecdotes, of what we believe in and how we express ourselves in worship: and scripture warns us that this will occur.

But we also need to be careful that we don’t allow ourselves to become modern day scoffers by belittling or deriding God’s Word by making less of it than it is or by diminishing it because it isn’t convenient for us to live up to.

Most Christians would not consider themselves to be scoffers of God: but are we sometimes not guilty, of doing that very thing, because of the way we live and the things we say?

Today’s Prayer

Father, forgive me if ever my actions or my utterances remotely or ostentatiously prove me to be a scoffer: for this is not what I want to be when it comes to my commitment and devotion to You.