Today's Reading:O.T. - Job 26 - 31
N.T. - 2 Peter 3
Focus Verses: 2 Peter 3:8-9
8But 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. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Insight:
At the beginning of this chapter, Peter says that he wants to stimulate his readers' minds toward wholesome thinking. He goes on to remind them that God will keep all his promises and that a final day of salvation and judgement will come. Even though that day may be far away the future (so far that doubters mock and question it), Peter urges Christians to hold fast to God's promises and to live as though it could come at any moment. He reminds them that God is more concerned with saving people than he is with time. In fact, what seems like slowness to us may in reality be a testimony of God's patience and grace, since God desires everyone to come to repentance and salvation.
Response and Action:
I need to remember and believe God's promises. I need to feed my spirit and stimulate my mind with wholesome thoughts. Believing that a final day of salvation and judgment is going to come, I will do all I can to live for God and share the truth of Christ with others. I will see each new day as a testimony of God's patience and grace and embrace God's desire to see everyone come to repentance and salvation.
O God, because of your love for the world, you gave your son Jesus that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. Thank you for your grace and mercy toward all people. Thank you for your patience and your desire to give life and salvation to everyone. Show yourself to all people, O God, that all who see and believe in Jesus would find the way, the truth, and the life. Forgive me when I doubt you or forget your promises. Help me to live each day for your praise and as a witness of Christ Jesus. Amen.
Proverbs: 19:11
"A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense."
Resources:
Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense
by N. T. Wright
