In The Word
Read: 2 Peter 3:11-18
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
We Christians are instructed not to put our faith and hope in this world but in the one to come. We are told to live like aliens and strangers here. We are to live for the next life, not just this one. There is a new heaven and new earth coming. Our Savior and King of that new heaven and new earth is also coming. We must spend our time preparing ourselves for that day. We must live a life worthy of His kingdom and of our calling. We do this by living a life of holy conduct through the power of the Holy Spirit within us. This takes diligent work on our part. However, many unprincipled men will twist the scriptures to accommodate complacency and sloppy conduct. We are not saved by our works but by the work of Christ on the cross. However, we can be identified by the work of the Holy Spirit within us when others see proof of Christ through the way we live our lives. This takes diligence on our part to learn and grow in Christ. We don’t earn salvation, but, at the same time, we should be ready for the Savior. When unprincipled people try to have you abandon your quest and goal to be pure, holy, and blameless, steer clear of them. Keep your eyes on the prize and don’t get caught up in the world because it’s going to be destroyed. Instead, live for the One that is eternal.