(2 Peter 3:1-18) This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Reminder:
"praying effectively" involves knowing God's will. When we pray in His will (in His name), He
may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like,
or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!
It is God's will:
- that we remember God's words spoken through the prophets and apostles (3:2)
- that we realize the ungodly will be judged one day (3:3-7)
- that we keep this in mind that God is patient, and that one day for Him can be a thousand years, and vice versa (3:8-9)
- that God desires all people to come to repentance, and so gives them full and fair opportunity to do so (3:9)
- that we appreciate the fact that God is patient and fair and wants to give full opportunity to everyone to be saved (3:15)
- that believers look forward to the day we find ourselves in heaven with our Lord, more so than the fact that the ungodly will be judged (3:12-13)
- that we guard ourselves from temptation and remain steadfast (3:17)
- that we conduct ourselves in holiness and godliness (3:11)
- that we diligently exercise a life of righteous godliness (3:14)
- that we diligently pursue peace (3:14)
- that we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus (3:18)
Today's prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You so much for Your patience and grace which You give to all who believe. Guide us and help us grow in the knowledge of You. Give us Your strength and patience in order to exercise Your grace towards others. Give us Your strength and patience in order to exercise Your love towards others. Give us opportunities to share the gospel message.
Help us not to fall into the temptation of desiring judgment and destruction on our enemies, but instead, help us to share Your desire. Fill us with Your desire that people come to repentance and the knowledge of You. Guide us in our walk with You, that our actions and words would be a shining testimony to those around us. All to Your glory, amen.
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