8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
REFLECTION：
Chapter at a Glance: Peter urged his readers to trust the prophets and apostles despite scoffers who ridicule the Lord’s second coming and deliberately ignore past divine judgment. God’s timing is different from ours, but this present world will surely be destroyed. So, be godly and grow in grace.
Peter gave two insights into the lengthy delay between the promise of Jesus’ return and its fulfillment. First, God doesn’t view time as we do. What we might refer to as “a few thousand years”, He might think of just as “a couple of days”. So we can’t impose our time sense on God. Second, God has good reason for the delay. Christ hasn’t returned yet, because the Lord does not wish that “any should perish”. As long as Jesus is absent, the door to salvation remains open. But when Jesus comes, that door will slam shut. And then it will be too late.
Peter then wanted us to know that, when “the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved”, every material things we treasure will be all gone. So, Peter wanted us to act appropriately. The Message puts vv11-12 this way: “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.”
PRAYER:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words.Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep…
17 These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. 18 For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”
REFLECTION：
Chapter at a Glance: Peter warned that false teachers who exploit believers will face judgment. They were arrogant and immoral, and appealed to man’s sinful desires.
Peter insisted that genuine freedom is found in willingly submitting to the life God has ordered and arranged. The false teachers declare, “We are free because we do whatever we please. We are free from all boundaries, restrictions, restraints”. Exactly the opposite is true. We have been created for freedom, but we discover our freedom only by following God’s steps. False teachers ignore God’s way, and are wandering aimlessly.
Among the people you know and care, is there anyone who is living in so-called “freedom” but actually in bondage and bitterness?
Grieve with God over this person’s unwillingness to follow God’s way to enjoy genuine freedom. Pray specifically for this person. Pray also for an opportunity that you may share the true freedom with him/her.
PRAYER:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.
Introduction
Around AD 65 the apostle Peter was imprisoned in Rome by the emperor Nero, and he realized that he would soon be executed. Since he was an eyewitness of the ministry of Jesus, he decided to write another letter to the believers he had written to before, confirming what they had been taught about Jesus. False teachers were proposing that, since Jesus hadn’t returned already, his return couldn’t be expected at all. Because they didn’t expect any future judgment, they were living immoral lives. (Peter likely learned about the threat of these teachers from a letter sent by Jude, a brother of Jesus, to warn believers against them. Peter’s letter echoes Jude’s, but in shorter form. See Jude.)
Peter answers the false teachers by stressing that he personally saw the glory and majesty of Jesus on the sacred mountain (see Mark 9:2-13). Everyone will see this glory when Jesus returns. In powerful imagery Peter describes the false teachers’ destructive effect on the community and the judgment that awaits them. In the final section of his letter, Peter explains that the Messiah’s return has been delayed because God wants everyone to repent. Our proper response is to live good lives filled with hope, since we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
2 Peter Chapter 1 (ESV) 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
REFLECTION：
Chapter at a Glance: God in His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life. We are to make every effort to grow in spiritual virtues. Christian faith rest upon the testimonies of eyewitnesses. God’s prophetic words were spoken by men moved by the Holy Spirit.
An exercise bicycle helps us build stamina and slims thighs. But it does no good at all unless we put in our daily effort. Our relationship with God is something like this. The resource we need to live a God-pleasing life is always there for us. But to benefit from what God has provided, we have to put in the effort.
We are to make every effort to live a Christian life. We begin with faith, and we go on, and concentrate on developing the following Christian virtues: Good character (virtue), spiritual understanding (knowledge), alert discipline (self-control), passionate patience (steadfastness), reverent wonder (godliness), warm friendliness (brotherly affection), and generous love. If these qualities “are increasing”, they will keep us from “being ineffective or unfruitful”
Take time to ponder each character trait. Then think about those you are doing well in. Think about those you need to grow in.
Admit your need for God’s guidance and help in your growth in Him. Ask Him to help you grow in those areas where you recognize you need the most improvement.
PRAYER:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.
