Doing my quiet time, on Romans as always, and was still chewing on Rom. 8:17. So I'm writing my personal reflections on the verse (which somewhere along the way has increased in length to a novella), when I decide to reference the fact that our sufferings really don't last that long now, especially in light of eternity. I knew that was from Peter, but couldn't remember where (it was 1 Peter 5:10). So I ended up reading 1 Peter, and that was so good I read 2 Peter and couldn't help thinking how fun that would be to peruse on Sunday nights, even though I'm pretty much decided to do Witness to the World on Sunday nights for the next 6 weeks. Anyway, I knew I was going to preach on witnessing (Nathan-new title still isn't imaginative but true, it's "Each One, Reach One") when I came across 2 Peter 3. Here's verses 8-9 and 15 from the New Living: 8 But you must not forget, dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent....15 And remember, the Lord is waiting so that people have time to be saved. This is just as our beloved brother Paul wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him. (By the way, notice Peter quotes Paul here, he must have read Romans too!). Everyone thinks Jesus has taken so long to come back, that He might never come back. But why is He taking His time? He wants everyone to get to be in relationship with Him! God wants people to be saved! Isn't that a good passage? Spurred me on to write a majority of my sermon based off them! I must We must live with intentionality and love people into the kingdom. Every day matters too much just to waste it. I have been reminded repeatedly lately how that if I will simply walk in relationship with the Father through Jesus, He will open my eyes and I will see tons of opportunities to do what I'm called to. And that if I grab those opportunities He will do amazing things in people, and I will be even closer to Him. The irony is great here, spending time with God makes me a better Christian. HA! God is so cool! I love Him!
2013
13 years ago
3 comments:
Three things: 1) Passages like that one in Peter always make me laugh just a little bit because they talk about how long it's taking Jesus to come back, when in actuality it was only a few decades. 2) Have you noticed the past few times we've talked the thought of "God's ways are not man's ways" has come up? 3) I feel like with that sermon title we should be getting ready for a week of revival services.
Didn't we have a preacher (My guess would be Grozier or Lindow) that had that theme once? And BTW, you are right...He wants EVERYone to come to Him, so those of that already are need to be patient and help those who aren't yet His! And oh yeah, I'll just BET your kids are perfect! :-)
Yeah, David's big theme was, "God loves people more than anything." Might be what you're remembering.
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