A Long-Suffering God
(Amp) 2 Peter 3:8 Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape you, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. [Ps. 90:4.]
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.
2 Peter 3:15 And consider that the long-suffering of our Lord [His slowness in avenging wrongs and judging the world] is salvation (that which is conducive to the soul’s safety), even as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the spiritual insight given him,
2 Peter 3:16 Speaking of this as he does in all of his letters. There are some things in those [epistles of Paul] that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist and misconstrue to their own utter destruction, just as [they distort and misinterpret] the rest of the Scriptures.
2 Peter 3:17 Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of lawless and wicked [persons and] fall from your own [present] firm condition [your own steadfastness of mind].
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)!
1 Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured–
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.
Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!
The above hymn came to mind as I was considering today’s scripture. The song, written by Juliet Johnston in 1910, reflects the characteristic of God that allows sinful man to be reconciled to a Holy God—grace.
I skipped over several verses for today’s devotional, as these scriptures deal with the coming “Day of the Lord” and I wanted to focus on God’s patience in dealing with His creation. People have been looking for the return of Jesus since he ascended to heaven more than two thousand years ago, and we are no different today. But why has He delayed? Verse nine suggests that God is giving us time to repent, that none should perish.
Our God is gracious beyond anything we can comprehend. According to the writings of Billy Graham, “The motive of grace is the infinite, compassionate love of a merciful God.” Although we cannot fully understand God’s mercy and His grace, we can be thankful that God continues to extend to all mankind everything necessary to bring about salvation.
Peter finishes by urging us to grow in the grace of our Lord God, which we understand to be sanctification. For the Christian can never be dormant in living out our faith. Growth is expected in both the physical and the spiritual realms. And, as we grow in our faith and relationship with Christ, we should share our faith with others, for that is the meaning of intentional discipleship—first we learn and then we share.
May we start and end each day in relationship with Jesus, sharing Him with all we meet.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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