2023/09/02 - 2 Peter 3: The Coming of the Lord
Jerry Starling
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Reading: 2 Peter 3 – The Coming of the Lord
Verse for Today
The 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. (2 Peter 3:9)
Daily Devo
Scoffers Come Scoffing
In this second letter of Peter, he tries to remind them (and us) that we should remember the words spoken in the past by the prophets of old, and the commands of our Lord and Savior spoken by His apostles.
“Understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? Ever since our ancestors died, all things are as they were from the beginning of creation!”’
They ignore that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water. Through this water, the world of that time was deluged with water and perished. But by that same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire.
God’s Time
“With the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like one day.” He exists outside our space/time existence. He can move from today to the distant past or to the distant future in a way we cannot.
He is not slow about His promise as we think of slowness. We think a couple of thousand years as a long time; to Him it is a couple of days. He still wants all to repent and not perish. But when He is ready, the heavens will be rolled up like a scroll and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and all that is in it will be burned – and all that is done on earth will be revealed on Judgment Day.
New Heavens and New Earth
Long ago, Isaiah prophesied of new heavens and a new earth; God said, “I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17). Peter notices that promise from God and reminds us of it.
“Since all these things are to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought we to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness?” Peter not only asks us this question, but he also suggests we can “hasten the coming of the day of the Lord when the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved.” In accordance with His promise, we wait eagerly for the new heavens and earth, where righteousness dwells.
While waiting, be at peace, without spot or blemish, and regard the patience of the Lord as salvation for more people. We may add to the number reaching salvation by telling them of Jesus and His glory.
Peter also spoke of Paul’s writing to them as well, “speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures.”
Forewarned, beware you are not carried away with the error of the lawless. Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Pray for Yourself
Father, I pray that I may be watching for the coming of the Day of the Lord. In Jesus name, I pray, AMEN!
My Prayer for You (and for me)
Father, I offer this prayer for all who read these words. I pray that each of us will meditate on the coming of the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells and see if we can discover what makes this renewal so wonderful. This is my prayer, in His precious, holy name. AMEN!
Updates for Central
SonQuest started today! If you go, be ready for three days of fun mixed with great Bible teaching. Come back fired up for Jesus!
The morning Ladies’ Class resumes at 10:00 am Wednesday, September 6. All ladies are invited to participate.
Kid’s Club will be on Saturday, September 16 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Kendra Criss is in charge.
Our Eastern European Mission “Million Dollar Sunday” contribution will be on September 24. Our contribution that day will go to EEM for Bibles for the former Soviet bloc nations. Last year, EEM distributed 1,960,000+ Bibles, up 24% from 2021. They hope for more this year.
PRAYER NEEDS
Shane Ledford tested positive for Covid Friday morning. Pray for her and Tom.
Susan Allen came home Thursday following her procedure. Keep her in your prayers.
Cindi Criss had a successful surgery yesterday - after not getting into surgery after a lengthy delay. Keep her in your prayers.
Jennifer San Juan asked for more prayer for her daughter, Dawn. She is not doing very well, and Jennifer is deeply concerned.
Carl Bolli asks for prayers, as he fell a few weeks ago. He missed his PET scan d/t the storm and is rescheduled for September 8.
Lee Cain asked for prayers for Mike & Kathryn Hartman. She had a head-on collision when a car came across the median directly into her. She is out of the hospital, but still has more surgery to face. Pray for both, as he owns his own business, and taking care of her is his first priority. Meanwhile, the business suffers.
Gray has been diagnosed as having Covid. Please pray for her as she recovers.
Joan Berry, Joanna Turner’s Mother, needs our prayers.
Carol Grandey, Brenda Schmidt’s sister, is home and ready to enter rehab. Keep her in your prayers.
Jesse Matthews, Sr. Ruth said he is in rehab. Their daughter is also still recuperating from a broken ankle. She needs prayers as does the whole family.
Kristi Holder is planning to be at SonQuest. Jerry says she improves daily and will be taking it easy at SonQuest. Keep her in your prayers.
Joy Bland found she has a broken bone in her foot that requires a boot to help it heal. She will have it for about six weeks and had a PET scan. She is considering further treatment.
Gale Harnish is home, but not well. Keep her in your prayers.
Susan Allen’s sister Debi is not well at all. Please remember her in your prayers.
Please let us know when you have events to publicize, are in the hospital, or are sick and need prayers. If you request prayer for someone, let us know when to take them off the prayer list. You can contact me by text or phone at 407-453-5392.