When you are eager to walk as a disciple of Jesus, there will be scoffers.

You will be trying to live like this:

Do Not Love the World

¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life — is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15~17)

Soon, There Will Be Scoffers

¹⁷ But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” ¹⁹ It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. (Jude 17~19)

I can’t move on without calling your attention to what Jude is saying about scoffers:

• following their own ungodly passions. — these are not followers of Jesus (regardless of what they claim to be).
• It is these who cause divisions — You may recall that a favorite technique of Satan is to “divide-and-conquer”!
• worldly people — these are not interested in what the Bible teaches
• devoid of the Spirit — The Holy Spirit is not residing in a scoffer

Clearly, Jude is referring to those who are being influenced by Satan.

⁶ A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. (Proverbs 14:6)

You will be trying to live like this:

⁸ Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. ⁹ Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8~9)

Again, there will be scoffers

The Day of the Lord Will Come

¹ This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, ² that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, ³ knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. (2 Peter 3:1~3)

Again, I want to call attention to the scoffer:

The “scoffer” follows their own sinful desire.

The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind. (Proverbs 24:9)

You will be trying to live like this:

² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

But about Scoffers, God had this to say:

Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse…(Proverbs 9:7a)

A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. (Proverbs 15:12)

Well then, what should we do?

The Apostle Peter advises:

¹⁹ Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (1 Peter 4:19)

ALSO:

…but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12b)

AGAIN:

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)

Hey, nobody said life would be easy!

I want to end on a positive note:

Psalm 1

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

¹ Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; ² but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.
³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. ⁴ The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; ⁶ for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm 1)

I want to encourage you to read Psalm 1 out loud, every day. Eventually, you will be able to recite it from memory! TRUE!

- Jan