November 25-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:1-2, Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 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.
These are the concluding words of Apostle Peter’s second letter. The first letter identified his audience: “God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.” These were the Roman provinces in what is today Turkey. He tells the purpose of his writing was to stimulate them to pure, unadulterated thinking. It was to think appropriately about all things concerning faith in Jesus Christ. He tells us the source of such thinking comes from the Old Testament prophets and the teaching of the apostles based on Jesus’ message. Today, this message is found in Scripture. If we’re going to have correct doctrine, it begins with appropriately handling God’s word.
Relate it to your life.
Holy thinking begins with the Holy word of God.
Do something.
“Father, may my mind be full of Your teaching so that it’s filled with heavenly thoughts. Amen.”
November 26-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:3-7, 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.” 5 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.
As Peter continues to stimulate us to wholesome thinking, he tells we should expect to see scoffers in the last days who live for themselves and their own sinful desires. They will question and ridicule Christian doctrines such as Christ’s second coming. However, such people are foolish because they choose not to remember God’s previous actions: “By God’s word the heavens and earth were created. By water God brought judgment upon the earth. By God’s same faithful word fire will come upon all creation on that final judgment day.” The sobering result is that the ungodly will be destroyed.
Relate it to your life.
To think correctly is to believe God’s word that judgment is coming for all who have refused Jesus.
Do something.
“Father, give me an urgency to live and share the good news so many will be spared. Amen.”
November 27-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:8-10, 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. 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. 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.
In Peter’s goal to promote wholesome thinking, he responds to the scoffers and tells his audience what they must remember. God’s telling and our telling of time are as different as heaven and earth. What we consider a long period of time, God considers only as brief moment. With that perspective in mind, the Lord Jesus hasn’t been slow in keeping His promise to return. In fact, it shows His love for humankind. He is patient with us, wanting all to have the opportunity to repent and turn to Him in faith. However, when that Day comes, it will be cataclysmic. The whole universe will feel the effects of Christ’s glorious return where judgment will be executed upon all of creation.
Relate it to your life.
God’s grace is being extended to all of mankind through the seeming delay of Christ’s return.
Do something.
“Father, I ask that those I love who need to repent and trust in You will do so before the Day. Amen.”
November 28-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:11-13, Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Observe what it is saying.
Because judgment day is a certain reality, it should motivate us in our day-to-day to be holy and godly people. This is why we were redeemed. This is the new vision we live by as followers of Jesus. This is what we’re empowered to do through the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit within us. Even though we don’t know the exact day of judgment, we should expect it to be soon and to be catastrophic to the present world system. However, believers need not be afraid because a new heaven and earth await us!
Relate it to your life.
I am redeemed to be set apart from worldly values and to be totally immersed in God’s holy way.
Do something.
“Father, I give my all to You because I love You and desire to be with You throughout eternity. Amen.”
November 29-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:14-16, So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Observe what it is saying.
Because we eagerly anticipate the new heaven and earth where God’s righteousness perfectly dwells, our motivation is to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with God. This will be accomplished through Jesus’ redeeming and sanctifying work in us. Again, God’s patience in bringing about the final judgment means more will be among the saved. Peter confirms his knowledge of Paul and his writings on these topics. He says Paul wrote with the wisdom God gave him and goes on to indicate that people distort some of his teachings just as they do other Scriptures. Peter indicates he saw Paul’s writings to be on the level of Scripture before they were ever contained in the holy canon that we call the Bible.
Relate it to your life.
I am covered in the redeeming grace of Jesus to stand blameless before Him on that coming Day.
Do something.
“Father, I am putting my full trust in Jesus for the redemption that He alone gives for eternity. Amen.”
November 30-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:17-18, Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
Observe what it is saying.
Peter concludes his teaching on wholesome thinking. We have discovered proper thoughts give us the right motivation in relation to the final day of judgement that is coming into the world. He has forewarned us to live out our salvation so that we will stand blameless before the Lord. Here, Peter tells us to be discerning of such false teachers so we don’t follow their teaching and end up falling from our salvation. We guard against such a disastrous result by focusing on growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus our Lord. Intentional growth is an insurance policy to prepare us for the day of judgement.
Relate it to your life.
Choosing to grow in Christ each day is a blessing in my walk with Christ now and forevermore.
Do something.
“Father, grow me in the faith so I can enjoy You more and more each day and for all eternity. Amen.”
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:1-2, Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 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.
These are the concluding words of Apostle Peter’s second letter. The first letter identified his audience: “God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.” These were the Roman provinces in what is today Turkey. He tells the purpose of his writing was to stimulate them to pure, unadulterated thinking. It was to think appropriately about all things concerning faith in Jesus Christ. He tells us the source of such thinking comes from the Old Testament prophets and the teaching of the apostles based on Jesus’ message. Today, this message is found in Scripture. If we’re going to have correct doctrine, it begins with appropriately handling God’s word.
Relate it to your life.
Holy thinking begins with the Holy word of God.
Do something.
“Father, may my mind be full of Your teaching so that it’s filled with heavenly thoughts. Amen.”
November 26-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:3-7, 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.” 5 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.
As Peter continues to stimulate us to wholesome thinking, he tells we should expect to see scoffers in the last days who live for themselves and their own sinful desires. They will question and ridicule Christian doctrines such as Christ’s second coming. However, such people are foolish because they choose not to remember God’s previous actions: “By God’s word the heavens and earth were created. By water God brought judgment upon the earth. By God’s same faithful word fire will come upon all creation on that final judgment day.” The sobering result is that the ungodly will be destroyed.
Relate it to your life.
To think correctly is to believe God’s word that judgment is coming for all who have refused Jesus.
Do something.
“Father, give me an urgency to live and share the good news so many will be spared. Amen.”
November 27-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:8-10, 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. 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. 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.
In Peter’s goal to promote wholesome thinking, he responds to the scoffers and tells his audience what they must remember. God’s telling and our telling of time are as different as heaven and earth. What we consider a long period of time, God considers only as brief moment. With that perspective in mind, the Lord Jesus hasn’t been slow in keeping His promise to return. In fact, it shows His love for humankind. He is patient with us, wanting all to have the opportunity to repent and turn to Him in faith. However, when that Day comes, it will be cataclysmic. The whole universe will feel the effects of Christ’s glorious return where judgment will be executed upon all of creation.
Relate it to your life.
God’s grace is being extended to all of mankind through the seeming delay of Christ’s return.
Do something.
“Father, I ask that those I love who need to repent and trust in You will do so before the Day. Amen.”
November 28-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:11-13, Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Observe what it is saying.
Because judgment day is a certain reality, it should motivate us in our day-to-day to be holy and godly people. This is why we were redeemed. This is the new vision we live by as followers of Jesus. This is what we’re empowered to do through the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit within us. Even though we don’t know the exact day of judgment, we should expect it to be soon and to be catastrophic to the present world system. However, believers need not be afraid because a new heaven and earth await us!
Relate it to your life.
I am redeemed to be set apart from worldly values and to be totally immersed in God’s holy way.
Do something.
“Father, I give my all to You because I love You and desire to be with You throughout eternity. Amen.”
November 29-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:14-16, So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Observe what it is saying.
Because we eagerly anticipate the new heaven and earth where God’s righteousness perfectly dwells, our motivation is to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with God. This will be accomplished through Jesus’ redeeming and sanctifying work in us. Again, God’s patience in bringing about the final judgment means more will be among the saved. Peter confirms his knowledge of Paul and his writings on these topics. He says Paul wrote with the wisdom God gave him and goes on to indicate that people distort some of his teachings just as they do other Scriptures. Peter indicates he saw Paul’s writings to be on the level of Scripture before they were ever contained in the holy canon that we call the Bible.
Relate it to your life.
I am covered in the redeeming grace of Jesus to stand blameless before Him on that coming Day.
Do something.
“Father, I am putting my full trust in Jesus for the redemption that He alone gives for eternity. Amen.”
November 30-Great Chapters of the Bible
Write out the Scripture.
2 Peter 3:17-18, Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
Observe what it is saying.
Peter concludes his teaching on wholesome thinking. We have discovered proper thoughts give us the right motivation in relation to the final day of judgement that is coming into the world. He has forewarned us to live out our salvation so that we will stand blameless before the Lord. Here, Peter tells us to be discerning of such false teachers so we don’t follow their teaching and end up falling from our salvation. We guard against such a disastrous result by focusing on growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus our Lord. Intentional growth is an insurance policy to prepare us for the day of judgement.
Relate it to your life.
Choosing to grow in Christ each day is a blessing in my walk with Christ now and forevermore.
Do something.
“Father, grow me in the faith so I can enjoy You more and more each day and for all eternity. Amen.”
Posted in Daily Devotionals