God is still God—

• Despite the Year
• Despite the Circumstances in our Lives
• Despite the Behaviors we witness in the world &
• Despite the Actions we see even within our own families

God is still God—

• He is unchanging
• He is faithful
• He is forgiving &

He is Always Seeking those who are still lost.

When Simon Peter was close to the end of his life, he penned a second letter to the Christians who were scattered, living as aliens, residing in different places, separated rather than congregated. Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Peter, wrote to the believers, knowing full well that his execution was imminent.

• What does one write when he knows his life here on earth is almost finished?
• With what words does one express his final thoughts?
• Where within his being does someone reveal the words that display his innermost thinking?

What Do We Say?

Where Do We Start?

How Deep Do We Go?

When We Only Have One Conversation Left Within Us—

What Will We Speak?

The apostle Peter wrote words to encourage those Christians living scattered, reminding them WHOSE divine power lived within them & WHO had called them to become HIS children.

• It is true knowledge!
• It is granted to us, to all who choose to believe!
• It is all for His glory!
• It is for His excellence!
• It is all because of Jesus our Lord, sent by God Himself, so that we might be saved!

Years ago, I would ask my high school students to select something of interest to read, and then we (me included) would read for twenty minutes.  There is nothing more precious in a classroom than a twenty-minute session of silent-sustained reading.  As I would sit among them, sitting in my selected student desk, reading my material while they read their’s, oftentimes, I would glance around the room, seeing my beautiful students holding their magazines, novels, and library books, as I held mine, reading word—after—word & sentence—after—sentence.  At the end of our reading time, often I would hold up a $2.00 bill, the one with the face of President Thomas Jefferson and then write on the board this statement:

You have been given an opportunity to earn this $2.00 bill today.  All you must do is write twenty words (with each word holding the value of 10 cents).  Within your highly selected twenty words, you must express the importance of what you have chosen to read today.

That’s it!

• 10 cents per word.
• 20 words
• No more.  No less.

Who Will Win This $2.00 dollar bill today?

The apostle Peter had just one final letter before his execution upon a cross outside the city gates, and within this final composition, he chose to write—

“For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises,

so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature,

having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, . . .”

Then, after these words, Peter supplies us a list of qualities, the same qualities he struggled to keep within his own life.  He reminds the believers living across the known world that they must strive for them to be increasingly found within their lives, just as he did.

Christian, Peter writes to us too, to the modern-day believer, reminding us of our daily witness, of our testimony we are living.

If you and I are going to heed the Word of God, then we must willingly die daily to self, just as Peter, for it is not possible to live for God and walk with Satan, allowing our focus to remain planted on a sinful, lustful appetite.

Maybe you, like me, had to pull back your toes after that last sentence.

Then the apostle Peter continues, issuing a warning & also a promise of God—

The Holy Spirit is alive and moving, and He lives within us, so it is possible for us to keep our steps right in-step with His, but we must be diligent.  We cannot be wavering in our faith.  We must be alert within our Bible study, in our prayer time, and in our daily walk with Jesus.  We can remain steadfast, thankful for our salvation, daily praising our Father for His Most-Gracious Gift of Salvation.

• When we encounter the love of God
• When we renew and rejuvenate through Sabbath rest
• When we talk with our Savior throughout each day
• When we set aside time each day to study the Scriptures
• When we lift our voices in songs of worship to our King

Then the enemy will have no leverage within us, for our TRUST & FAITH & STRENGTH & POWER—THROUGH OUR SAVIOR—REMAINS CONSTANT!

Our homes, Our families, Our communities, Our cities, Our world, & Even those around us watching—will be changed.

What Do We Say—When Given One Final Conversation?

WE PROCLAIM ALL GLORY & HONOR TO OUR SAVIOR JESUS!