2 Peter 3:9-18
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.[a]
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.[b] 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.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
DEVOTIONAL
Adam Clarke asserts:
“2 Peter 3 is a clarion call to remain vigilant and steadfast in faith, no matter what doubts or scoffing may come from the world. The promise of Christ’s return and the new creation instills a hope that should inspire all believers to strive for holiness and spiritual growth. Regardless of the world’s mockery or doubt, the certainty of God’s promise remains unshaken. This chapter reminds us that God’s seeming delay is a manifestation of His patience and mercy, desiring that all should come to repentance.”
Verse 9 reminds us of the glorious patience of the Lord! He is waiting, not forcing the issue but waiting for us to respond to His wonderful grace as applied to both redemption and edification.
Peter notes the promises of the Lord for the “next steps” of creation. We are to have an expectation of enjoying the blessedness of it by being diligent in the use of every means and influence of grace, that may be found in Him—the Lord Jesus, the Judge of the living and the dead, without spot—any contagion of sin in your souls, and blameless being not only holy and innocent, but useful in our lives.
This section encourages us to:
- Live with Eternal Perspective. Our eternal life has already begun! Our values should reflect this reality.
- Pursue Holiness. Our life is to be focused on pleasing the Lord. Surrendering all aspects to Him.
- Share the Gospel. We are not just to be holy but also to be useful. Understanding His desire that ‘all would come to repentance’ we can be useful in drawing others to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
- Stay Alert and Prepared. As His children we are to live each day as if it could be our last.
Author: Richard Lawson
Other Scriptures for today:
- Psalm 146:5-10
- Ruth 4:13-17
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