Monday, 20th February 2023
Alex Buabeng-Korsah
TOPIC: BEWARE OF DOGS
THEME SCRIPTURE: Philippians 3:2 KJV
PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:
- Why is it important to be aware of dogs?
- Who are the dogs?
It is common to find people post a sign on their walls that reads – ‘BEWARE OF DOGS’. Such warnings are to inform non-inhabitants that there are dogs in the house and that they can be hurt by those dogs.
Similarly, there are dogs in the Christian community we find ourselves. In every generation, these dogs of the faith have existed. In our days also they are there. Apostle Paul, by the Holy Spirit, warned the believers in Philippi to be cautious of the dogs among them. Let’s pause and ask this important question – ‘who are the dogs’?
In scripture, dogs were considered to be animals that are good at tearing apart good things (Matt 7:6). They were considered abominable (Deut 23:18), profane and unclean.
This suggests that dogs are wicked men who have crept into our fellowship, whose interest is to destroy the people of God (Psalm 22:20). Dogs refer to those who pretend to be one of us but their trade is to do the abominable. They are like Balaam, the soothsayer who gave counsel to Moab to trap the children of Israel to commit whoredom (Num 31:16). Precious One, these beware.
There is liberty that is in Christ. This liberty enables us to walk, knowing that we have been forgiven of all our sins. We have liberty in Christ to eat what we want and know that we cannot be made unclean by what goes into our bodies. But some false brethren have found themselves among the community of believers.
Their agenda is to spy on the freedom we have in the Lord and to see how they can bring us into the legalistic bondage of religion (Gal 2:4).
Some have become teachers who profess that the eating of certain fishes is spiritually dangerous, and certain days are demonic days. They concoct doctrines that are legalistic or have no basis in the scriptures. Of such, precious one, beware.
In Christ, we have become heirs of God and joint-heir with Christ. Joint-heir is not the same as co-heirs. A co-heir has a share in the inheritance but a joint-heir is like having a joint account with your spouse. Everyone has 100% ownership of the inheritance. If God owns everything and we are heirs to Him and joint-heir with Christ, then all things are ours (1 Cor 3:21). Who then can tell us that certain days are demonic days and certain foods belong to the devil?
The life we have received in Christ Jesus is founded on God’s grace and can only be sustained by the same.
Falling from grace will rob you of the blessings of Christ’s finished works for you, placing you back in the bondage we have been delivered from. This is what the dogs seek to achieve. But thanks be to God that we are not ignorant of their devices. Through the knowledge of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you will live above the schemes and skirmishes of the dogs. The grace of our Lord Jesus, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit are with you now and always. Glory to Jesus.
FURTHER READING – 2 Peter 2:15-19
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:
- In what ways are we to relate with the dogs who have crept in, to spy on our liberty?
CONFESSION
Precious Father, thank you for the liberty we have received in Christ. I confess this day that your grace is sufficient for me. That in all situations that I find myself, it will not be by might, nor power but by the Spirit of God. Through the knowledge of our Lord Jesus, I am soaring above the skirmishes of the dogs of our days, in Jesus’ Precious name, Amen.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Exodus 31; Exodus 32; Psalm 89; 1 Corinthians 1; 1 Corinthians 2
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