Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen. (2Peter 3:14-18)
PETER URGED THESE PERSECUTED PEOPLE to “be somebody!” In his two little books, he urged them to: BE WON (1Peter 3:1). To: BE GLAD (1Peter 4:13). To: BE ABLE (2 Peter 1:15). To: BE MINDFUL (2Peter 3:2). To: BE DILIGENT (1Peter 3:14). To: BEWARE (2Peter 3:17)
HE DID NOT WRITE THEM TO ENTERTAIN THEM. His words were direct and to the point. He was a general giving direction to his troops. He didn’t wish for them a good job, good retirement and that their kids would all make good grades in school and marry well. He began by urging them to be diligent in holy living so that they would have peace and be without spot and blameless in their living. He was not there to “market” Christianity as is being done on a big scale in America today.
EVERYTHING HE WAS WRITING TO THEM WAS IN THE CONTEXT of the coming judgment of God upon the earth. He said, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent. There would be no need to be diligent if these things were not coming their way. The same applies to us today. If you believe the Word of God, it is a mindset, a framework in which to fit all the components of your life.
THE NEXT THING TO CONSIDER WAS THAT GOD'S DELAY IN CHRIST'S RETURN to earth is an exercise of God’s mercy and longsuffering (long-allowing) toward unrepentant sinners. There’s an old country ballad that is on-target of this idea: “Wait a Little Longer, Please Jesus” (to help us get our loved ones in.) I first heard this song on the radio when I was a young teen-ager and thought a lot about it. Would God really do that? Should we pray that kind of prayer?
I HAD HEARD THE BIBLE PRAYER: He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20) Could it be that we can pray the prayer in Revelation and at the same time to consider Peter’s words: account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation (2Peter 3:15)? Peter mentions that Paul has written along the same line.
THE APOSTLE PETER AND THE APOSTLE PAUL AGREE, THEN, that we are to explain the Lord’s delay in pouring out judgment and the return of Christ by saying “it is the Lord’s longsuffering. (The Lord’s extended mercy.) I found that old song and put a link to it for today’s song. It was sung in earnest and it was received in earnest by the radio listeners (before the days of television.)
And NOW…I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY SANG THE SONG and why it was so well-received in radio audiences across America. (I doubt if the song was played on he “big band” radio stations that commanded a more sophisticated audience.) If Jesus returned today, I have loved ones to leave behind.
THE LAST THING PETER SAID WAS: “beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” (2Peter 3:18) Think! Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That was Peter’s best shot at helping these scattered Christians to be strong in the faith. Anything here that might relate to you? Ω
Read Through the Bible in a Year
JUNE 15, 2018 – FRIDAY
A.M. Ezra 9-10 P.M. Acts 1
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.) If you are behind in reading, read the passage for today and then go back.
Good Memory Verses:
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1Thessalonians 4:16-18) Write verses on scraps of paper and put in your pocket to memorize like President Abraham Lincoln did.)
Song for Today:
Wait a Little Longer Please Jesus (2:50) – (The Louvin Brothers)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD5VeteiOss
You may need to delete an ad or turn off the song when finished to avoid something else you do not want to hear.