September 17, 2019
2 Peter 3:8-9; 14
by Laura Shearer
Retired Clergy
Scenic South District

Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends.  With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as one day.  God isn’t late with His promise as some measure lateness.  He is restraining Himself on account of you, holding back the End, because He doesn’t want anyone lost.  He’s giving everyone space and time to change.

 So, my dear friends, since this (the End) is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace.  Interpret our Master’s patient restraint for what it is: salvation. 

How often do you miss what is obvious?  We can be so  caught up in living life according to our own agenda that we never even think that God might be wanting to make us aware of something or ask something of us. We can put a sense of calling to action on the back burner and just go on as if God isn’t speaking, all the while completely oblivious to possible time constraints on our fulfillment of that call.

This passage of scripture speaks of the day when life as we know it will come to an end and God’s plan will be fulfilled. (I hope you will read verses 2 Peter 3:8-15). The text also raises a question as to whether we may need to be about something  in the meantime.  

The message of the Gospel is that God loves all people and all things God has made.  We know that message, and each of us has a calling to live as disciples of Jesus, delivering  the divine message of love and grace to all whom we encounter.  We do that in our thoughts and prayers as well as our words and our actions.

A little while ago I found a counted cross-stitch someone had hand embroidered at an antique store.  I had to buy it as a reminder to be attentive to how my own life offers God’s goodness.

These are its words:   
Kind hearts are gardens
Kind thoughts are roots
Kind words are flowers
Kind deeds are fruits

Of course, we can make our own agenda and follow it.  We can live without attentiveness to the goodness God calls forth from us in this life.  We can be more tuned in to being right and others being wrong.  We can be thinking about who is worthy and not worthy of God’s grace.  We can act as doorkeepers to the kingdom rather than door openers, all the while believing that we are godly in doing so.

Friend, spend daily time really listening to hear God’s voice in order to discern your course.  God will not fail to love you and provide for your needs, but God will also guide you to share those blessings from God with others. What you hear may surprise you. 

Prayer: Gracious God, help us to live with our hearts turned toward you.  May we be grateful for the life you give us and always be willing to give to others the blessings and grace you give us.  May we live with hopefulness in anticipation of the joy of your glorious kingdom.  Amen.