Today—May We Be—More & More Like Jesus!
“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,
(2 Peter 3: 3-4 NASB)
and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue just as they were from the beginning of creation.”
Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Peter was given these words to write within his second letter, the letter to us within—God’s Holy Word.
Peter fascinates me.
- A regular guy, a fisherman.
- A man called by Jesus to become a fisher of men.
- A man who left all that he knew and followed Christ Jesus.
- A man who walked with Jesus.
- A man who saw the miracles of Jesus performed.
- A man who walked on water, but also
- A man who began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus.
- A man who was with Jesus, sitting at the table during the Last Supper.
- A man who saw his Lord on trial.
- A man who denied that he knew Jesus prior to the crucifixion, not once, not twice, but three times.
- A man who probably watched from a distance as His Lord was crucified, and
- A man who hid himself with the other disciples, fearful that their lives, too, would be taken.
- A man who outran John when the women testified about the empty tomb of Jesus.
- A man who was mystified by the empty grave, &
- A man who heard the voice of the angel of God telling him that Jesus was alive!
- A man who was there in the upper room with the other disciples when Jesus revealed his nail-scarred hands and his pierced side.
- A man who had seen Jesus in the flesh! &
- A man who had seen the risen Lord!
- A man who climbed the holy mountain and saw the transfigured Christ.
- A man who preached to those at Antioch, &
- A man who saw thousands come to know Christ Jesus as their Lord.
- A man who was given the task of serving the Lord & who was given the words of God that we may understand the mystery of God.
The Apostle Peter was a man who had been face-to-face with our Lord Jesus Christ!
And it was the Apostle Peter who was instructed by—the Holy Spirit of God—to write:
“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,
(2 Peter 3: 3-4 NASB)
and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue just as they were from the beginning of creation.”
Yes, I must admit that the Apostle Peter fascinates me because there are so many times when I find myself acting just like Peter!
Maybe you too.
Today, let us be reminded—
May We Act Not Like Peter But More & More Like Jesus!
Thus, it was the Apostle Peter who was given—the Word of God—to remind us of the hastening day of our Lord.
“But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.
(2 Peter 3: 7-10 NASB)
But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patent toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth its works will be discovered [burned up].”
Because . . .
- Just like the Apostle Peter, we know the day of the Lord is coming!
- Just like the Apostle Peter, we do not know when Jesus will return! &
- Just like the Apostle Peter, we need to be diligent in our calling, doing the tasks the Holy Spirit gives us to do!
- Just like the Apostle Peter, we will struggle &
- Just like the Apostle Peter, (heaven help us) we may deny the Lord at times when we stand in a crowd. &
- Just like the Apostle Peter, we can seek God’s forgiveness!
Knowing that we are not alone in our struggles helps us so much.
Today—
May We Act Not Like Peter But More & More Like Jesus!
Therefore, it is the Apostle Peter who also reminds us how we are to walk through this life.
“Since all of these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
(2 Peter 3: 11-15 & 17-18 NASB)
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!
But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found spotless and blameless by Him, at peace,
and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, . . .
You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard, so that you are not carried away by the error of unscrupulous people and lose your own firm commitment,
but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
Today—Yes, this day—
May We Act Not Like the world! But . . .
May We Act More & More Like Jesus!
We have the very present Holy Spirit of God alive and living inside us!
Yes!
Yes, we do!
Almighty God grants us courage and perseverance and strength to withstand our temptations!
God Himself walks us through our days through His Holy Spirit—directing our steps, controlling our tongue, leading our hands to do, walking our feet to go, stepping along with us as we walk toward the day Jesus will bring us home.
- We can fully trust God to keep His promises!
- We can share with the world the mystery of the Gospel!
- We can boldly go, willingly do, and humbly follow Jesus our Lord!
- We are never alone!
Therefore, not only are we reminded through the Apostle Peter, but we also have the Apostle Paul who was given—the Word of God—to remind us:
“And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings,
(Colossians 2: 13-14 NASB)
having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
Today—
- Our sin debt has been forgiven!
Today—
- Our sin debt has been nailed to the cross of Calvary!
Today—
- Our sin debt has been erased by the very blood of Jesus Christ, the Holy Lamb of God!
So Today—
- May We Act Not Like Peter, or Paul, or any other earthly man who ever walked upon this earth.
And Beginning Today—
- May we Walk with our Savior Jesus!
And Beginning Today—
- May We Act More & More Like Jesus!
Easter Morning is Coming!
Not just Easter Sunday 2023, but Literally!
May we walk &
May we look more & more like our Savior Jesus!
The melody “Sunday Morning Feeling” by Apollo LTD is a beautiful way we are reminded through song how we are to be living. Listen today & Be Reminded.
So, in closing, we see in—the Word of God—how the Apostle John was given a vision, a Revelation—to encourage us:
“And a voice came from the throne, saying,
(Revelation 19: 5-7 NASB)
“Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.”
Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder saying,
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.”
Thank you for your help today and every day. I love you .Aunt Verne.