Wednesday, November 30, 2011

2 Peter 3:8-15


8But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.
9The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.
11Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? 13But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. 14Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; 15and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,

2 comments:

  1. This is the passage I am preaching on this Sunday. And the word that stuck out to me was "patience". "with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day." Then at the end "regard the patience of our Lord as salvation."

    My 43 1/2 years seem like an eternity to me, shouldn't I have it fairly well figured out by now? And I have been at Zion for less than a year. I like to think of myself as fairly laid back and somewhat patient. My daughters might have a different perspective. And yet, a thousand years are like one day? Do I give myself and others the time needed, am I patient, not wanting any to perish? Or, am I wanting too much to get er' done and get on to the next thing?

    I'm grateful for the reminder that I am "beloved" and that God is patient with me. It helps me to remember who is writing these verses. One who has experienced God's patience in a profound and personal way.

    What strikes you?

    ReplyDelete
  2. For me, the "stand out phrase" is in verse 11: "what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness . . ." I think this question is what we, as Christians, should be wrestling with our entire lives. Just what DOES it mean to live a life of holiness and godliness? What sort of person am I? What sort of person SHOULD I be? Should my "life of holiness and godliness" look different than that of my neighbors? Big questions, and no easy answers . . . .

    ReplyDelete