Monthly Archives: June 2013

2 Peter 3

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Peter addresses a common concern of believers – why is the return of Jesus taking so long? Things seem to be getting worse by the day. He reminds us that God works in different timescales to what we’re used to in our short lives, but even more encouragingly, explains the reason for the apparent delay. “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.”

Every day is a new chance for us to serve God, to start fresh from the failures of the past and strive to develop “lives of holiness and godliness”.  While we are waiting, Peter encourages us to “be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace… grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

2 Peter 1-2

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Peter’s epistles were written to an ecclesia under intense persecution. He writes to remind them of their hope, to stand fast and put their trust in God, and encourages them to live as “a lamp shining in a dark place”.

“make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,  and knowledge with self- control, and self- control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 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… Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall”

Let us similarly make every effort to practise these qualities, living effective and fruitful lives secure in the knowledge that God is with us.

1 Peter 2

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We have been “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading.” Our hope is based on the work of “a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious”.

We’re called to be just like that living stone, to form part of a spiritual house made up of people not afraid to be considered strange. The world might view us as weird, but we are part of something much greater, “a people for [God’s] own possession.”

Let us follow the example of Christ, who suffered for us and left us an example, so that we  can follow in his steps.

Isaiah 35

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Isaiah 35 paints a marvellous portrait of the kingdom.  The weak hands and knees will be strengthened, the anxious will no longer fear, there will be gladness and joy, sorrow and sighing having fled away.

“Be strong; fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”

Judges 2-3, James 1

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God said to the Israelites “I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, I will never break my covenant with you”.  Even though Israel then “abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt”, God had compassion on the Israelites and “raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.”

The book of Judges is a great demonstration of God’s love and mercy, even when we’re pushing Him away. But ultimately it is up to us to remain faithful. “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

Let us be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Realise what our natural face looks like, and instead of forgetting it, work to change it to match God’s face. “The one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

Hebrews 13

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Hebrews continues its theme of strengthening and encouragement. God “has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we can confidently say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

This world offers us nothing, instead “we seek the city that is to come”, available to us through the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus.

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Joshua 22, Isaiah 28, Hebrews 11

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In Joshua 22 we read about the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh building an altar of witness, a permanent object to remind them and their descendants that they were part of the covenant made with God, to serve God and keep the law.  They describe the altar as “a witness between us that the Lord is God.”

God says in Isaiah 28 “I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation”.

Hebrews 11 describes faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” We’ve never physically seen that sure foundation that God created. We have no physical monument to remind us of the covenant we’ve made with God. But through faith, we know that the sure foundation of Christ exists, that we can build our lives on the certainty of God’s promise.  Through faith, we can be witnesses to each other, to encourage and remind of that covenant made with God, and help each other grow and develop in God’s love.

Hebrews 10

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“we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus…let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works”

Hebrews 6-7

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God, who cannot lie and who is unchangeable, swore an oath to Abraham that he would be blessed.  “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf”.  We have a hope with direct access to God, behind that curtain separating the most holy place.  Jesus, “a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens” is the one through whom we have this hope.

Jesus “is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” So let’s draw near to God, confident and sure in our hope that was promised by a God that cannot lie.  What will you do to draw near to God today?