I haven't posted for a few days so I hope you are still ready to think about some of the scriptures I was mentioning. I was so moved by the last chapter of 2 Peter.
Starting again at verse 7, we are told that the earth is literally being preserved still today for a time yet to come when everything will perish with fire. This should actually be comforting to us since we are so often deluged with people claiming the earth will be destroyed by disease, global warming, another ice age, and on and on. It's comforting to me to realize that the earth is kept until the day of judgement and then we are clearly told it will be fire that will be faced, not all this other stuff.
Going on to verse 8 we are reminded that this "waiting" for the return of the Lord is actually an indication of His mercy. If He were to end everything now, there still would be so many unsaved. We've got work to do, for the Bible says clearly that it's not His will that any should perish!
Moving on to verse 10 we have a description of the destruction of the earth. It's very plain and re-supports verse 7. From verse 11 to the end of the chapter Peter goes on to admonish his readers to live in such a way as to please the Lord in light of what's going to eventually come. The works of the earth will be burned up (verse 10) and all that remains is what you have done for the kingdom! What a motivating thought that should be! Verse 13 reads, "Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."
Won't that be awesome! I am looking forward to that. I've noticed as I get older and have grown in my relationship with the Lord, I long for heaven. I grow weary of the systems and injustices and heartache of this world. Yet I am here to live and make a difference. Do I take that seriously every day?
Going on to the last few verses, I really love verse 15, "and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you." The apostles are endorsing each other and that's another wonderful evidence that the Lord has brought the scriptures together to perfectly agree and complement each other. The very thing that the scoffers were attacking is actually the goodness of the Lord--their opportunity to be saved--"the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation."
More on the last few verses on the next post!
I picked tomatoes today. Trying to get a good bunch of them ripened on my deck table for spaghetti sauce. Things in the garden are rapidly slowing down. Next week is our county fair and I've got a few projects that have to be entered later this week. I always love that. I will take at least two knitted items and Emma's placemat pantsuit. Blessings, LORI
Showing posts with label 2 Peter chapter 3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2 Peter chapter 3. Show all posts
Monday, September 14, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
ENCOURAGEMENT FROM 2 PETER 3
Yesterday I spoke of reading 2 Peter chapter 3 and just feeling like so many things popped out at me! I wanted to go through the chapter (maybe for more than one day) and share these with you.
Get your Bible and follow along! In the first two verses, Peter encourages the readers to "stir up their pure minds by remembering." Yesterday there was a lot of remembering going on in the USA because of 9/11. Sometimes remembering can be good. It helps us see where we've been! Peter goes on to say that they should reflect on the words of the prophets (a major porotion of the Old Testament) and then of the apostles' commandments (verse 2). Verse 3 contains a warning that in the last days, scoffers will come--those who doubt and ridicule what you have to say. This verse gives the picture of people who are living any way they want because they doubt the truth of eternity. Verse four goes on to let us know that they doubt Christ's return. I think there alot of people in the world today who have numbed themselves to that message. Even in the church Christians can get discouraged. I think this chapter is a good one to study and meditate on to keep ourselves pointed in the right direction and our minds jolted into reality despite what the scoffers may be telling us.
According to Peter one of the arguments that scoffers were using went just like this: 'Nothing is changing, things are just the same as they've always been, there's no 'end of the world' coming.' But the apostle's reminder in verses 5 and 6 should help us get an understanding. The doubters forget. They forget that once the world was destroyed by a flood and MUCH changed in a short period of time. The argument that everything has always been the same--doesn't hold water! The earth was different before the flood! Get some good creation teachings to see how much was altered by the catastrophic results of the flood of Noah's day. It's very interesting and a real eye-opener if you've never been schooled in creationism. You'll be convinced by the evidence that things do not stay the same.
So next time you're tempted to get weary in well-doing or to forget that the Lord's return is to be a motivating factor in your Christian life, re-read Peter's admonitions.
We are planning a grill-out around the campfire this evening! Hope you have a great weekend as well! Blessings, LORI
Get your Bible and follow along! In the first two verses, Peter encourages the readers to "stir up their pure minds by remembering." Yesterday there was a lot of remembering going on in the USA because of 9/11. Sometimes remembering can be good. It helps us see where we've been! Peter goes on to say that they should reflect on the words of the prophets (a major porotion of the Old Testament) and then of the apostles' commandments (verse 2). Verse 3 contains a warning that in the last days, scoffers will come--those who doubt and ridicule what you have to say. This verse gives the picture of people who are living any way they want because they doubt the truth of eternity. Verse four goes on to let us know that they doubt Christ's return. I think there alot of people in the world today who have numbed themselves to that message. Even in the church Christians can get discouraged. I think this chapter is a good one to study and meditate on to keep ourselves pointed in the right direction and our minds jolted into reality despite what the scoffers may be telling us.
According to Peter one of the arguments that scoffers were using went just like this: 'Nothing is changing, things are just the same as they've always been, there's no 'end of the world' coming.' But the apostle's reminder in verses 5 and 6 should help us get an understanding. The doubters forget. They forget that once the world was destroyed by a flood and MUCH changed in a short period of time. The argument that everything has always been the same--doesn't hold water! The earth was different before the flood! Get some good creation teachings to see how much was altered by the catastrophic results of the flood of Noah's day. It's very interesting and a real eye-opener if you've never been schooled in creationism. You'll be convinced by the evidence that things do not stay the same.
So next time you're tempted to get weary in well-doing or to forget that the Lord's return is to be a motivating factor in your Christian life, re-read Peter's admonitions.
We are planning a grill-out around the campfire this evening! Hope you have a great weekend as well! Blessings, LORI
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