May 18-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:2, I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
Observe what it is saying.
We ended last week discover Peter’s stated purpose of both letters was to stimulate wholesome thinking. In contrast to the hidden motives of the false teachers, the letters give us two sources to use to helpful us to remember and think correctly. First, they remind readers what the prophets said long ago, recorded in the Old Testament. Peter used passages from all three major divisions of the Old Testament (Torah, Prophets, and the Writings). This suggests when he says the holy prophets, he has the entirety of the Old Testament in view, not just what we commonly refer to as the prophetic books. Peter was convinced that the Old Testament writers served believers in announcing the Good News. Second, the letters remind readers of the commands of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ which they received through the apostles. Instead of a specific commandment, Peter, likely, had in view the whole gospel message that commands people to repent and believe the good news. As our Lord, Jesus has full authority over us; as our Savior, he gave his life to make us his own people. Putting the testimony of the apostles and the Old Testament together is a strong indication that the apostles’ writing is equal in status to the inspired Scriptures they already had.
Relate it to your life.
If I am going to stimulate wholesome thinking, I need to engage in the whole witness of the Bible.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to stay true to Your holy word so that I do not fall prey to the many false messages being presented in our world today. Amen.
May 19-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:3-4, Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”
Observe what it is saying.
Both the Old Testament and Jesus predicted that scoffers would come. “Scoffers” are those who in their arrogance mock or dismiss other people and their thoughts as being beneath them. Scoffing at God and His promises reveals the spiritual emptiness and brokenness that such a self-absorbed life produces. The “last days” refers to the time period when God fulfills his promises of a new creation ruled by Christ Jesus, the Messiah. The last days have already begun with Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, however, they await their full consummation when Christ returns to establish a new heaven and earth. The presence of such scoffers confirms the divine revelation they deny for it was prophesied they would do so. They scoff at the promise of Christ’s return, arguing that the world has continued on the same way from the beginning of creation. The term “ancestors” refers to the Old Testament patriarchs. In claiming nothing has changed from the beginning of creation, they deny all of God’s acts of judgment and salvation in the Old Testament and in the Incarnation of the Son to die on the cross for our sin, to rise victoriously from the dead, and to pour out His Holy Spirit. They arrogantly treat the holy acts of salvation as though they never happened, thereby, redemption has not come.
Relate it to your life.
The ultimate dishonor to God is to deny His love and work to save us and give us a beautiful future.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, I honor and praise you for the great love You have demonstrated in saving me. Amen.
May 20-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 2:5-7, But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
Observe what it is saying.
The error of the scoffers was not based on ignorance. Peter says they deliberately chose not to remember two eternal truths of God’s word. It caused heaven and earth to come into existence. The earth was formed out of water by the word of God. Genesis 1 describes how God gathered the waters together to allow the dry ground to appear, and Psalm 24 agrees that God founded the earth upon the seas. The word of God was the instrument God used to bring the heavens and the earth into existence. Along with Genesis 1, Psalm 33:6-7 says, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses.” According to the New Testament, the Word of God is the second person of the Trinity. John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” Water and the word of God were also the means by which God brought judgment on the world through the flood. In 2 Peter 2:5 the flood is symbolized as the coming judgment on the false teachers. Here, it is evidence against their foolish claims that nothing has changed from the beginning of creation. The same word of God is now reserving the present heavens and earth for fire on the day of judgment, when God will bring final salvation to his people and destruction on the ungodly.
Relate it to your life.
God will not be mocked. His word is eternal and will produce exactly what He has spoken.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, every word You speak is truth. May I choose not to forget but attentively listen to it. Amen.
May 21-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:8, But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
Observe what it is saying.
God’s time and our time are vastly different. We experience this world in decades, while God has eternally existed where a thousand years to us is only like a day to God. This creates impatience within us where we want God to work His plan now. Because God’s timing is often different, Scripture calls us to wait on the Lord as an act of trust. After God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt, we discover how they failed. Psalm 106:13-14, “But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold. In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness they put God to the test.” Waiting on the Lord is faith in action that God is working to accomplish His plans just as He said He would. The psalmist lamented how difficult it is to wait in those moments where we want justice served. Psalm 119:84, “How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors?” In the same psalm, he writes in verse 166, “I wait for your salvation, Lord, and I follow your commands.” Waiting on the Lord’s timing requires trust and obedience in God’s providence that He is right on schedule.
Relate it to your life.
Waiting is an act of trust that is a difficult but much needed practice to deepen our faith.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, give me the grace and patience to wait upon You to answer my prayers. Amen.
May 22-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Observe what it is saying.
This is one of the most encouraging Scriptures that we can find concerning God’s patient love. As the false teachers and scoffers continue to rail on that Christ is not coming back, Peter tells the congregation not to listen to their foolish message. Instead, he offers the reason that it appears there is delay in the Second Coming is actually for the world’s benefit. God really does “so love the world.” He gives as much time as possible for as many people as possible to repent and experience His saving grace. God’s love is so immense that He has no desire for anyone to be eternally condemned. Instead, His passionate love desires all persons to embrace the saving grace offered through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. God has the same concern we have for our loved ones who are outside the faith. God hears our prayers for them and is waiting, giving them ample opportunity to respond to His repeated attempts to capture their hearts and minds. With this knowledge of His love and desire for our loved ones to be saved, we should not ease up on our prayers but continue to pray with fervency for their souls.
Relate it to your life.
As much as I want Christ to return to clean up the mess of this world, I am glad He delays so my loved ones have ample opportunity to receive His gift of salvation.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, I plead for my loved ones who are not in the faith. Please, keep working, keep speaking and softening their hearts so they will receive the saving message of grace offered freely to all. Amen.
May 23-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:10, But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Observe what it is saying.
Yesterday, Peter emphasized God’s patient grace as indicated by Christ waiting to return to give as many persons as possible the opportunity to repent and be saved. In today’s Scripture, he wants to make it absolutely clear that the day will come suddenly and unexpectedly. So, we cannot become lazy or lukewarm. We must stay vigilant and passionate in our faith as we wait for this final day of judgment. The “day of the Lord” refers to when God brings judgment on his enemies and salvation for his people. There have been remarkable “days of the Lord” already, such as, the crucifixion and Pentecost. Each of these “days of the Lord” anticipates the final day when the Lord Jesus Christ returns at the end of human history to make all things pure and holy. Three things will happen on this day: First, the heavens will disappear. Second, the elements (which in Peter’s day referred to the earth, air, wind, and fire) will burn and dissolve. This language envisions either the complete destruction of the world or, more likely, its purification. Third, the earth and the works done on it will be exposed for all to see. Peter makes it clear that this day will not be missed. It will impact all of creation and will forever change the character of the universe. This is why Peter has been so passionate about calling on his readers to refuse to listen to the false teachers and scoffers who say the Lord is not coming back. Their teaching is a lie straight from Satan to lull as many as possible into a spiritual sleep so that they will not be ready when it occurs.
Relate it to your life.
I cannot be caught off guard but must remain spiritually vigilant at all times.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, keep me close, keep me on fire for You, and ready for the day that You return. Amen.
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:2, I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
Observe what it is saying.
We ended last week discover Peter’s stated purpose of both letters was to stimulate wholesome thinking. In contrast to the hidden motives of the false teachers, the letters give us two sources to use to helpful us to remember and think correctly. First, they remind readers what the prophets said long ago, recorded in the Old Testament. Peter used passages from all three major divisions of the Old Testament (Torah, Prophets, and the Writings). This suggests when he says the holy prophets, he has the entirety of the Old Testament in view, not just what we commonly refer to as the prophetic books. Peter was convinced that the Old Testament writers served believers in announcing the Good News. Second, the letters remind readers of the commands of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ which they received through the apostles. Instead of a specific commandment, Peter, likely, had in view the whole gospel message that commands people to repent and believe the good news. As our Lord, Jesus has full authority over us; as our Savior, he gave his life to make us his own people. Putting the testimony of the apostles and the Old Testament together is a strong indication that the apostles’ writing is equal in status to the inspired Scriptures they already had.
Relate it to your life.
If I am going to stimulate wholesome thinking, I need to engage in the whole witness of the Bible.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, help me to stay true to Your holy word so that I do not fall prey to the many false messages being presented in our world today. Amen.
May 19-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:3-4, Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”
Observe what it is saying.
Both the Old Testament and Jesus predicted that scoffers would come. “Scoffers” are those who in their arrogance mock or dismiss other people and their thoughts as being beneath them. Scoffing at God and His promises reveals the spiritual emptiness and brokenness that such a self-absorbed life produces. The “last days” refers to the time period when God fulfills his promises of a new creation ruled by Christ Jesus, the Messiah. The last days have already begun with Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, however, they await their full consummation when Christ returns to establish a new heaven and earth. The presence of such scoffers confirms the divine revelation they deny for it was prophesied they would do so. They scoff at the promise of Christ’s return, arguing that the world has continued on the same way from the beginning of creation. The term “ancestors” refers to the Old Testament patriarchs. In claiming nothing has changed from the beginning of creation, they deny all of God’s acts of judgment and salvation in the Old Testament and in the Incarnation of the Son to die on the cross for our sin, to rise victoriously from the dead, and to pour out His Holy Spirit. They arrogantly treat the holy acts of salvation as though they never happened, thereby, redemption has not come.
Relate it to your life.
The ultimate dishonor to God is to deny His love and work to save us and give us a beautiful future.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, I honor and praise you for the great love You have demonstrated in saving me. Amen.
May 20-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 2:5-7, But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
Observe what it is saying.
The error of the scoffers was not based on ignorance. Peter says they deliberately chose not to remember two eternal truths of God’s word. It caused heaven and earth to come into existence. The earth was formed out of water by the word of God. Genesis 1 describes how God gathered the waters together to allow the dry ground to appear, and Psalm 24 agrees that God founded the earth upon the seas. The word of God was the instrument God used to bring the heavens and the earth into existence. Along with Genesis 1, Psalm 33:6-7 says, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses.” According to the New Testament, the Word of God is the second person of the Trinity. John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” Water and the word of God were also the means by which God brought judgment on the world through the flood. In 2 Peter 2:5 the flood is symbolized as the coming judgment on the false teachers. Here, it is evidence against their foolish claims that nothing has changed from the beginning of creation. The same word of God is now reserving the present heavens and earth for fire on the day of judgment, when God will bring final salvation to his people and destruction on the ungodly.
Relate it to your life.
God will not be mocked. His word is eternal and will produce exactly what He has spoken.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, every word You speak is truth. May I choose not to forget but attentively listen to it. Amen.
May 21-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:8, But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
Observe what it is saying.
God’s time and our time are vastly different. We experience this world in decades, while God has eternally existed where a thousand years to us is only like a day to God. This creates impatience within us where we want God to work His plan now. Because God’s timing is often different, Scripture calls us to wait on the Lord as an act of trust. After God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt, we discover how they failed. Psalm 106:13-14, “But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold. In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness they put God to the test.” Waiting on the Lord is faith in action that God is working to accomplish His plans just as He said He would. The psalmist lamented how difficult it is to wait in those moments where we want justice served. Psalm 119:84, “How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors?” In the same psalm, he writes in verse 166, “I wait for your salvation, Lord, and I follow your commands.” Waiting on the Lord’s timing requires trust and obedience in God’s providence that He is right on schedule.
Relate it to your life.
Waiting is an act of trust that is a difficult but much needed practice to deepen our faith.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, give me the grace and patience to wait upon You to answer my prayers. Amen.
May 22-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Observe what it is saying.
This is one of the most encouraging Scriptures that we can find concerning God’s patient love. As the false teachers and scoffers continue to rail on that Christ is not coming back, Peter tells the congregation not to listen to their foolish message. Instead, he offers the reason that it appears there is delay in the Second Coming is actually for the world’s benefit. God really does “so love the world.” He gives as much time as possible for as many people as possible to repent and experience His saving grace. God’s love is so immense that He has no desire for anyone to be eternally condemned. Instead, His passionate love desires all persons to embrace the saving grace offered through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. God has the same concern we have for our loved ones who are outside the faith. God hears our prayers for them and is waiting, giving them ample opportunity to respond to His repeated attempts to capture their hearts and minds. With this knowledge of His love and desire for our loved ones to be saved, we should not ease up on our prayers but continue to pray with fervency for their souls.
Relate it to your life.
As much as I want Christ to return to clean up the mess of this world, I am glad He delays so my loved ones have ample opportunity to receive His gift of salvation.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, I plead for my loved ones who are not in the faith. Please, keep working, keep speaking and softening their hearts so they will receive the saving message of grace offered freely to all. Amen.
May 23-Stand Fast
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:10, But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Observe what it is saying.
Yesterday, Peter emphasized God’s patient grace as indicated by Christ waiting to return to give as many persons as possible the opportunity to repent and be saved. In today’s Scripture, he wants to make it absolutely clear that the day will come suddenly and unexpectedly. So, we cannot become lazy or lukewarm. We must stay vigilant and passionate in our faith as we wait for this final day of judgment. The “day of the Lord” refers to when God brings judgment on his enemies and salvation for his people. There have been remarkable “days of the Lord” already, such as, the crucifixion and Pentecost. Each of these “days of the Lord” anticipates the final day when the Lord Jesus Christ returns at the end of human history to make all things pure and holy. Three things will happen on this day: First, the heavens will disappear. Second, the elements (which in Peter’s day referred to the earth, air, wind, and fire) will burn and dissolve. This language envisions either the complete destruction of the world or, more likely, its purification. Third, the earth and the works done on it will be exposed for all to see. Peter makes it clear that this day will not be missed. It will impact all of creation and will forever change the character of the universe. This is why Peter has been so passionate about calling on his readers to refuse to listen to the false teachers and scoffers who say the Lord is not coming back. Their teaching is a lie straight from Satan to lull as many as possible into a spiritual sleep so that they will not be ready when it occurs.
Relate it to your life.
I cannot be caught off guard but must remain spiritually vigilant at all times.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, keep me close, keep me on fire for You, and ready for the day that You return. Amen.
Posted in Daily Devotionals