2 Peter 3 - Peter’s Final Word
Not surprisingly Peter’s final words encourage the church to grow. I wonder what Peter will think of Jesus's actions over the last 2,000 years as Jesus patiently builds His church. I bet he’s not surprised at all. With Jesus, everything is always much different and way better than we could imagine.
I’m blown away by Christians who have the gift of encouragement. The Barnabases, if you will. They know what to say and what not to say to be like Peter the Rock to encourage us to keep going and trust God alone.
Let’s be like Peter and like all the men and women of the Bible that show us how we are to live. We stimulate wholesome thinking by listening to what God has said and done through the holy prophets and to what Jesus commanded through our apostles (3:12). Let’s do that. Continue to read the Old Testament along with the New, daily. Nothing encourages us like God himself as we read His word.
God is patient for our sake. He wants all people to repent and to be godly people on the day of judgment. Today is a great day to follow and put your trust in the Most High God. He is for you, not against you. The world will disappoint. Jesus does not. God overflows with kindness and love. And righteousness.
Fortunes and empires come and go, rise and fall. But God’s Kingdom ever rises. Oh, it started small enough. But 2,000 years later it is much bigger (I love the sign outside of Biggar, Saskatchewan that reads: New York is big, but this is Biggar. Ya gotta have a sense of humour!).
We do not know when God will be ready to populate His new world with the people of God. Only God knows. But we do know that God’s patience is very good - every day being another day of grace, mercy, love, and growth. God is giving more time for us to live peaceful lives and to make disciples.
Let’s not pretend to know God’s timing and how He’s working throughout this world today. We have all we need to do our part to help the Kingdom grow. God works in ways that shame the arrogant and honor the humble. Have you ever noticed in the Old Testament that God worked through secular leaders? I'm thinking of Darius (leader of the Medes/Persians) and Nebuchadnezzar (King of the Babylonians in their heyday before the time of the Persians). They actually both instructed their populaces to honor God. Shocking really for pagan rulers over pagan nations. Never presume whom God will not work through. You don’t know that. Neither do I.
Be open-minded to the power and Providence of God to build His Kingdom as He sees fit. Don’t think that because we are part of a nation that has done great things for God (Canada, the UK, the USA, etc.), God won’t work through people from any nation, from Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, or Honduras. God can. I have no doubt that God is working through every nation on the globe. Right now.
You and I do not get to judge which nation will be blessed by God and who will lead. That is God’s sovereign domain. And never assume that just because a man or woman is in leadership that they are blessed by God. They may be, but like Belshazzar, they may be an example of what happens to arrogant, hard-hearted leaders.
Like Daniel, however, we can be good, faithful, and true to God alone. Be the person that God wants you to be. Excel. Prove yourself more capable because of God’s gifting and the great ability the Holy Spirit blows into your spirit. You have God-given gifts. Fan that fire by hard work and prayer. As Peter says here, make every effort to be faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy to our King Jesus.
Yes, it should come as no surprise that there are malicious people in our workplaces (and yes in the Church). They are the opposite of encouraging. They pride themselves on marginalizing the competent and tearing down those they have the power to abuse. They create a culture of fear and can’t go to bed at night until they’ve done another evil deed and planned to continue their schemes the next day. They slander and malign others out of evil intent and selfish ambition. So what. That’s the spiritual battle we are in. Oppose them. Like Daniel, refuse to be intimidated by them. Indeed, use God's spiritual weapons against them - forgive them - pray God will bless them and stop their evil ways.
As Christian men, we are to pray continuously. But do we? How about we follow Daniel’s lead and at least kneel before God and pray three times per day (Daniel 6:10). I’m working on my prayer life. It’s never been super strong. I’ve recently started reading a book called Handbook to Prayer, Praying Scripture Back to God (by Kenneth Boa). It’s a great way to pray adoration, confession, renewal, petition, intercession, affirmation, and thanksgiving to God. It’s been a real encouragement to me.
Peter succeeds in stimulating our wholesome thinking. Jesus will return. A new earth is coming. We get to live in it. It’s terribly exciting. As Christian men let’s lead our families well. Don’t be worldly-minded. And don’t for a second let the discouragers and the maligners slow you down. They are not our judge. Jesus is. Our performance is measured by Him alone. You are a child of God. Loved. Gifted. Trust God to fight for you.
I couldn’t be more excited for the days ahead. For I know that our orders and our opportunities come down to us from God our Father. His adventures are never safe. But they are good.
Let’s be good stewards of eternal things. Peaceful. Pure. Holy. Godly. Blameless. Faithful. Patient. Humble. We are characterized by our love and unity (the name of another Saskatchewan town) in Christ Jesus. By His grace, we will gown in knowing and understanding of our King Jesus until He returns. May God bless you and richly shine His face on you and your family this Lord's Day. Amen.
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