Daily Devotion in II Peter 3

Daily Nugget:
We are getting closer to the “last days” before the coming of the Lord. What was prophesied in II Peter 3:2 is happening today.

It was told over 1900 years ago that in the "last days," there would be many that would mock (scoff) at the Lord, saying, “Where is His coming?” (paraphrase from II Peter 3:4). Those poking fun at the earlier biblical promises that Jesus would come again are on the increase. Some of the scoffers are even those that claim to be Christian!

Peter explains here why the Lord has not returned yet. Although we may be eager for Jesus’ quick return, the Father is not. Time means little to Him. To the Creator, one day is the same as 1,000 years, and 1,000 years are the same as a day to Him (II Peter 3:8). His priority is not time.

God’s priority is souls. He wants as few to go to Hell as possible (II Peter 3:9). The longer we have on Earth, the more opportunities there are for the lost to get saved. If He came over 2,000 years ago, when the apostles and early Christians were looking for His return, then billions would never have had gone to Heaven! You and I would not have had the privilege to know that we are saved and on our way to eternity with Him.

God looks down from Heaven and sees our sins. He knows about the millions of babies being killed in abortion, those proudly parading their open defiance to Him and their homosexuality in “Gay” parades, those that commit crimes against others and supposedly have escaped criminal prosecution, those who sin without restraint, and many other sins. God tolerates mankind’s evilness because He gives people opportunities to repent of their wickedness and turn towards Him. He is long-suffering (II Peter 3:9) because He does not want any to suffer in Hell if it can be avoided.

However, there will be a day when God decides His toleration and long-suffering has been enough. It will then be that Jesus will come as a “thief in the night,” when no one expects His coming (II Peter 3:10). There will no longer be any opportunities for those that have heard the plan of salvation to be saved. God’s longsuffering will cease.

That time will finally come. It could be today or tomorrow, or twenty years from now. Are you ready for Jesus’ coming?

Today’s Thought:
“Ready or not; Jesus will come!”

Words to Understand:
Perdition: loss; ruin
Scoffers: those that ridicule
Wrest: to change the truth

Today’s Reading:
II Peter 3
1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3 ¶ Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 ¶ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 ¶ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 ¶ Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.