8 May 10
Hello, special people.
In typical fashion, lots of work is yelling for my attention. So let's get on with it.
I hope you have a great day...and when you come to its end you can recognize God's blessing along the way.
Love and prayers. Dad/Ray
8 May 2010
Passage: 2 Peter 3
Focus: “I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.” 2 Peter 3:1
You sure don’t have to look far in our world environment to find and
identify a lot of unwholesome thinking. Peter is inspired here to give
us a kind of RECIPE FOR WHOLESOME THINKING. It all flows out of the
supposition that wholesome thinking will produce wholesome living…while
unwholesome thinking will produce unwholesome living. What an idea!
A central theme on which Peter bases these ideas is that we are all
heading toward not only the terminus of physical life, but the terminus
of time. It really is reasonable to expect some kind of conclusion
since everything we know in the dimension of time has a beginning and
an end.
In anticipation and preparation for that great
conclusion of all things (and beginning of new things), we are
instructed to…- Anticipate conflict from unwholesome thinkers
(vv.3-7).
“First of all, you must understand that in the last days
scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our
fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of
creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word
the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by
water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and
destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved
for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly
men.”
- Understand that time is no big deal with the Eternal God
(vv. 8-9).
“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. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand
slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but
everyone to come to repentance.”
- Anticipate final judgment and
destruction (v. 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 in it will be laid bare.”
-
Pursue an attitude and lifestyle that make peace with the Eternal God
(vv. 11-14).
“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what
kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
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. But in keeping with his promise we are
looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of
righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to
this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace
with him.”
- Be on your guard against decadence by continually
growing (vv. 17-18).
“Therefore, dear friends, since you already know
this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error
of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the
grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be
glory both now and forever! Amen.”
“Some people get lost in thought because it’s such unfamiliar territory.”