DEVOTIONAL
This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder. 2 Peter 3:1 NASBS
2 Peter 3:1 NASBS
As the apostle Peter is nearing the end of his life, his heart’s desire was to stir up the minds of Christians of his generation to purity and personal holiness. The Christians of his generation were facing violent persecution, even persecution unto death. Therefore, Peter reminds them that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and through His divine power, He had granted them everything necessary pertaining to a life of godliness. For the Lord had given them a new heart and put a new spirit within them. He removed the heart of stone from their flesh and gave them a heart of flesh, enabling them to carefully observe all of His ordinances. For this very reason Peter encourages them to make every effort to supplement their faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities were increasing in their lives, it would keep them from being ineffective or unfruitful in their walk with Christ. Peter knew that regardless of their circumstances The Lord was able to give them the strength needed during this dark hour to persevere, and appear as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.
Christian, as we toil through this world filled with much suffering, continually being afflicted by the sharp arrows of sin, how easy it is for hearts to grow weary and faint. May the grace of God arouse the hearts of His children, those whose senses have become dulled to the glorious truths and precious promises which our Lord Jesus has given to those who love Him. For it is by His great mercy that He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Whom He raised from the dead. This is an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled and will not fade away and is reserved in heaven for all of His children whom He calls out of darkness into His marvelous light. Not only that, but it is protected by the power of God through faith that cannot fail. For this is the confidence you can have in Him, He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Christ Jesus.
Rejoice oh children of Zion, break forth and shout, for you have been redeemed. For The Lord has delivered you from the eternal wrath of a Holy God, Who will one day judge the world through the righteousness of His Son Jesus Christ. Just as it is written, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; When you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Yes, there’s a moment in history when we will see the Lord Jesus Christ arrayed in all of His glory, crowned with many crowns, and we will once again walk with Him in the garden in the cool of the day as Adam of old, yet without fear.