A Wise Warning

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!

Philippians 3:2 (NKJV)

Upon arriving at a new school, Ben noticed that everything was different from what he knew about school life. The students' routines, their daily activities, and even the discipline were a little too strict compared to his original school. As a precaution, his mother advised him to be careful and not to venture too far into the groups or participate in their activities. But Ben, out of curiosity, didn't listen to his mother.

One day, while walking around the schoolyard, Ben decided to approach the groups of students to see what was going on and why they were so different. He began questioning them one by one. Wisely, one of the students asked him to return to the classroom. What the student didn't tell him was that there were gangs among the students, as it was a public school where anyone could enroll. That's why discipline was strict.

Ben's mother's advice may have seemed absurd to her, but what she really wanted was his protection, as she likely knew which school her son attended. It's the same warning Paul is giving us here. There are those who devour us and cause us to lose our relationship with God. These dogs, these evildoers, and these mutilators of the flesh, as he calls them, are often present among us in churches. So be careful who you let into your life and with whom you share your faith. Not everyone has the same goal.

May God's grace and peace be with you all.