Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
… but [God wants] everyone to come to repentance.
Summary: The word “repent” often carries with it vague connotations of emotional trauma. In fact, what Peter is telling us is that if we reject the idea of God, God wants us to change our minds.
Continue reading “2 Peter 3:9d — Street Preachers”
Instead he is patient with you…
Summary: Understanding some concepts is sometimes made easier by looking at the absence of the concept. This technique helps us understand why God is patient.
Continue reading “2 Peter 3:9b — The Patience of God”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Summary: It is easy to get caught up in “going with the flow” and celebrate Christmas without knowing why. Pausing to think about why we celebrate Christmas will add meaning and light to our celebration.
Continue reading “Luke 1: 38 — Christmas Eve”
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
Summary: Slowness is a measuring stick that changes day-to-day and person-to-person. Understanding that time is subjective helps us understand what is going on here.
Continue reading “2 Peter 3:9a — What the Banana Plant Saw”
With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
Summary: Peter gives us an interesting perspective on what it is like to be God. With the Lord, time is both very detailed and expansive.
Continue reading “2 Peter 3:8c — A Penny to a Dollar”
… dear friends
Summary: Who are Peter’s friends? Does he have you in mind? Today we explore who Peter is talking to and who he is talking about.
Continue reading “2 Peter 3:8b — Peter’s Friends”
But do not forget this one thing …
Summary: Without our memories, life is a confusing series of events that seem disconnected from each other. Memories of what we have learned add perspective to life and help us avoid repeating mistakes.
Continue reading “2 Peter 3:8 — Big Red Button”
… being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
Summary: Understanding the day of judgment is helpful to understanding our relationship with God. He is the creator, we are the created. If we do not function as we were created to, then we cannot be used. Like scrap wood at a construction site, such people end up in the fire.
Continue reading “2 Peter 3:7c — Smoke”
By the same word …
Summary: The power of words is something we tend to take for granted. Yet looking at the effect of human words, we can see there is a correlation between God’s Word and our own experience.
Continue reading “2 Peter 3:7a — The Power of Words”
By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.
Summary: Peter continues his message about those who do not believe and work to undermine God’s church. One way they do this is to scoff at the idea that God could flood the whole earth.
Continue reading “2 Peter 3:6 — Water”