Weekly Devotional 8-1-16 Our Long Suffering God
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2nd Peter 3:9 NKJV).
The above is an excerpt from a second letter that the apostle Peter wrote as an encouragement to Christians who had been scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia who were suffering great persecution (1st Peter 1:1-2 NKJV). He himself had endured many persecutions and was even then anticipating that he soon would be martyred because of his faith and testimony in Jesus Christ (2nd Peter1:14 NKJV).
Naturally, Peter and they would have appreciated relief, if not deliverance from such persecutions, but that was not in God’s providence for them; nor is deliverance from persecutions always in His providence for us. Knowing of their frustration, which was enhanced by scoffers who mocked them because of their belief in the Lord’s anticipated return, Peter penned these words;”10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:10-18 NKJV).
As in Peter’s day there are today scoffers who say, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation” (see 2nd Peter 3:4). This scoffing usually comes from unregenerate men, but it sometimes comes from unlearned Christians. However, we must understand, as did Peter and his fellow believers that “8bwith the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8b-9 NKJV).
Now there is a difference of opinion to whom the “us” of verse 9 refers; the elect or mankind in general. But Peter’s emphasis is, and our consideration should be, on the longsuffering of the Lord, and that He is not willing that any should perish and that all should come to repentance.
God is not willing that the “us” of verse 9 perish, but that they all come to repentance, and He is long suffering toward that end. Perhaps it is you that he is waiting upon. Still, it must be remembered, even though God is long suffering and patient, there is an end to both. If that end should come with you not having turned to God this will be your end; “11Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11-15 NKJV).
This, however, need not be because, “1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:1-11 NKJV).
Turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, if you have not already, in repentance of your sin and you will be numbered with the “us” of 2nd Peter 3:9.
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Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man