STAND FIRM, BE PATIENT AND BE SERVING

STAND FIRM, BE PATIENT AND BE SERVING

And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. —II Peter 3:15-17

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. —II Peter 3:9

            It is clear from the Scripture above that our Lord has not returned because He is patient. He desires more people to repent and be saved. He does not desire that any perish and so He has not returned yet.   “And count the patience of our Lord as salvation.”   People may mock at the teaching of His return, but that is why He has not come back yet.  

So let us, His Church, be about His business— “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14) and “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).” He will come back when His Church has accomplished the responsibility He has given it.

While we are awaiting His return let us serve Him out of our love for Him. Let us be aware of “the ignorant and unstable” that do not understand parts of Scripture and “twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” Knowing there are those that do this “take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.” So be firm in faith because “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all (Isaiah 7:9).”

Yes, Dear Father, please help me to stand firm in faith, keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus.   May I be stable in You and not be carried away by some errant teaching. Help me to cling to what You say in Your Word and may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. May this be the generation that accomplishes the responsibility You have given Your Church. Even so come, Lord Jesus! So be it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr-sIMqw560