2 Peter 3:1-13
By our nature, we're impatient (some of us maybe a little more than others). We want and like things on our timetable. Peter is tuned into this tendency we have and, as a result, warns us about doubting God's timetable. He reminds us in verse 8 "that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." But then encourages us in verse 9 with these sweet words: "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."
So what are some things we can do to help us remember that God's timetable is different than ours and that His is most important? Tami W.
God's timetable is definitely different than ours. This is a good thing for us. He is Sovereign and we are not. He sees the whole picture from past, present, and future. We only see a very small part.
This should enable our trust in God that His plans are better and help us cultivate patience for His timetable when it doesn't match ours.
Here are some ways
1) Allow ourselves to be stimulated to wholesome thinking (3:1). The way that Peter says to do this is to " ... recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Saviour through your apostles" (vs 2). We must allow God's Word to influence our thinking but it will not happen naturally. We must intentionally engage what He has to say.
2) Ignore scoffers (3:3). In this particular chapter Peter is talking about scoffers who mock us for waiting for God's coming. In our society, scoffers abound in every which way. Those who scoff at what God's timetable is are answered by Peter. I don't believe we should ignore them to the point of not giving an answer for the hope that is in us. But I do believe that we should ignore them in the sense of coming to believe as they do.
3) Live holy and godly lives (3:11). Everything is going to be destroyed. All the things that we think will last in this world will be burned up. It would help us remember that God's timetable is better when we are unsure of when this will happen because it will inspire us to live flat out for God. If everything is going to be burned up, why devote our lives to the things that will one day perish. Let's devote our lives to eternal things!
4) Look forward to a new heavean and a new earth (3:13). Remembering that we are looking for a new "home" where righteousness dwells will help us get through the suffering of today. It will give us a longing for God's timetable to run its course. It will give us a thirst for eternity and a joyous spirit to know where it is we are going when the end of all time is rolled up.
It's so hard to wait upon the Lord. Being parents of teens/young adults can be so discouraging. They were raised in the bible, AWANA, youth group, church weekly, prayer, yet now as college students, they don't follow any of the beliefs of their childhood. Satan is under attack with my children and it's heartwrenching. Waiting for the Lord to bind Satan and keep my children safe in their rebellion.
God is good. His timing is perfect. His plan is perfect. Sometimes, even knowing this, it is hard to trust even an all-knowing, all-powerful God. Sometimes He allows things just to spur our trust in Him. Our focus must be on Christ, not the waves. This is so hard sometimes. That's why God made us the body of Christ and not just "islands". Let's stick together, pray for each other and encourage each other to keep the faith. I'm praying for you and your children!
Verse 9 "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."
Isn't this wonderful to know? God does not want to lose any of us but we must do our part. We must thank Him for His love and make sure that we keep in His Word believing in Him, and live in hope. What He says He will do! Believe and Trust Him.
For all those who mock us, tell them they should be glad for the time our God is giving them and say a prayer for them that God will touch their hearts. Julie H. keep praying for your young adults. College really changes them but God is above man and He will not allow anyone to pluck them from His hand. My son went to college in the States and changed a bit but I have not ceased praying for him and I am seeing changes. God is awesome and we must not give up on our children, young, old or otherwise. May God continue to guide our foot steps and proyecy us against all evil.
Something to remember is that God created time for us, not for Himself. Time, like us, is part of the created. In remembering that, we can realize that when the time is right, the Creator will do what needs to be done. He sees all and knows all, and is not constrained by our limitations. Time is a limitation that He created for our benefit and use.
We must definitely learn to be patient with God's responding to our request. We all need to consider that God sees the situationfar greater than we do. He works at his own speed and not ours. We must stay in the word and stay in prayer.
Waiting on god is not always easy,but is always best,because he is perfect and knows best.sometime we may think we need something or an answer like right now, and don't recieve it we are unhappy,but when god in his perfect timing grant us our request,we ralize that it comes at the perfect time when we most needed it,and remember that god does everthing for his. glory
Waiting on god is not always easy,but is always best,because he is perfect and knows best.sometime we may think we need something or an answer like right now, and don't recieve it we are unhappy,but when god in his perfect timing grant us our request,we ralize that it comes at the perfect time when we most needed it,and remember that god does everthing for his. glory
What I'm trying to do, in my own life, is to discover which "earthly" things (many of which are not truly needed) I can permanently and, habitually, LOSE...just to weed them out! So far, I have been amazed to discover how much more time I'm having for the "Godly" things. It is a journey that continues, but I'm making some progress. Once, having rooted out those "earthly" things that never deserved my focus, I'm able to dwell upon God's Word, His plan for ME, and how I might lift up those I meet along my journey. The management and understanding of how to use our time is something all of us struggle with. But, for me, the start, was to eliminate things I never knew were cluttering my life and blurring my focus. To focus more steadily on God's Word, God's plan, and God's will for my life, is bringing me more patience (something I've always had too little of, and I suspect, mostly due to my getting wrapped up in the unnecessary! May God bless us with more of His grace and patience and the discernment to focus on what belongs to HIM!
Ian P I think your response is right on, you have answered all the questions that I would have raised. Thanks
Tami,
I only today read your response of yesterday. Thanks so much for the effort you made to provide an adequate response.
I need to thank the other P4 partners for their responses to my question.
God bless you all.
Janice,
What a cool thought that God created time for our benefit. I never thought of that before. His timetable is often different than our. Perhaps that will help me be more patient as I wait on God's timetable for a different job. Thank you
I think what we can do is reflect on how He has come through for us in the past. Knowing that He never goes back on His word. And in the meantime while we wait for something, or even more so, for His return, we should be in our word, in fellowship, in prayer and just living for him. In times of distress and impatience, we should be humble and reach our for help from other believers who can remind us about these truths!
this may be a different take on this subject.do we ,after we pray,make the same request time and time again because our prayer "was'nt answered".if we believe"when we pray"that our petitions are answered and God gives us the desire of our heart,why do we feel the need to ask Him again and again?should'nt we thank Him for the answered prayer instead of asking again? sometimes we do get impatient and think He did'nt answer us,which in reality,His time table is not ours.isnt faith a wonderful gift
I'd like to encourage Julie here - you're not alone in the issue about teenagers and young adults. The least of mine is actually not a teenager anymore. I struggle to remind them of the doctrines of Christ they were raised with and everyday it is battle. I send them scriptures at school where they live to help them and remind them of how to conduct and live their lives acceptable to God. May God help us and hear our cry over them. It's tough. We shall overcome. Let us wait and pray for a painless recovery of our children.
God's timetable is definitely different then ours, I pray for his will and time to be done in my life.