Daily Bread 2010 - 2 Peter 3
Daily Bread 2010 – 2 Peter 3
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
As the author of 2 Peter concludes his second letter, he also turns to the subject of the Lord’s return. To warn them of its imminence, he states that with the Lord, a day is like a thousand years. Since even back then many thought the events of the times like the destruction of the Jewish temple was a portent of what was to come, people questioned why Jesus’ return was stalled.
2 Peter reminds us how our time frame is different than God’s time frame. We live in an age of instant gratification, where our tolerance for waiting is often minimal. But God sees the big picture and has a long view of the unfolding of history, especially salvation history. Whereas some doubted if God was keeping His promise to return soon, the author reminds us that God’s patience means more opportunity for lost people to find Him.
There is the saying, “Be careful what you wish (pray) for.” Before we pray for Jesus to come back soon, let us remember that there are many who still do not know him. The passage makes clear that the reason Jesus has not come back yet is that God wants all to come to a knowledge of the truth.
In the meantime believers are encouraged to live lives that would speed God’s coming. Since we remember that false teachers were infiltrating this church, it was also a subtle warning to the church to make sure and guard not only the teaching of the church, but also the living out of the Gospel of grace in their lives. Then they would be ready whenever the Lord chose to return.
The final verse, 18, is a great exhortation for all us as we seek to speed the coming of the Lord, remembering that there are still those who have not yet come to faith, including perhaps people in our own families. It says, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
Jesus, we thank you for your patience for those who have not yet fully embraced the grace of God that you came to show us. As we await your return may, we lead such lives among the people that we know and love that they would come to repentance and follow you the author and perfector of life. Amen.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
As the author of 2 Peter concludes his second letter, he also turns to the subject of the Lord’s return. To warn them of its imminence, he states that with the Lord, a day is like a thousand years. Since even back then many thought the events of the times like the destruction of the Jewish temple was a portent of what was to come, people questioned why Jesus’ return was stalled.
2 Peter reminds us how our time frame is different than God’s time frame. We live in an age of instant gratification, where our tolerance for waiting is often minimal. But God sees the big picture and has a long view of the unfolding of history, especially salvation history. Whereas some doubted if God was keeping His promise to return soon, the author reminds us that God’s patience means more opportunity for lost people to find Him.
There is the saying, “Be careful what you wish (pray) for.” Before we pray for Jesus to come back soon, let us remember that there are many who still do not know him. The passage makes clear that the reason Jesus has not come back yet is that God wants all to come to a knowledge of the truth.
In the meantime believers are encouraged to live lives that would speed God’s coming. Since we remember that false teachers were infiltrating this church, it was also a subtle warning to the church to make sure and guard not only the teaching of the church, but also the living out of the Gospel of grace in their lives. Then they would be ready whenever the Lord chose to return.
The final verse, 18, is a great exhortation for all us as we seek to speed the coming of the Lord, remembering that there are still those who have not yet come to faith, including perhaps people in our own families. It says, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
Jesus, we thank you for your patience for those who have not yet fully embraced the grace of God that you came to show us. As we await your return may, we lead such lives among the people that we know and love that they would come to repentance and follow you the author and perfector of life. Amen.
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