Scripture: Peter 2 (NRSV)
DEVOTIONAL:
We all have expectations of what the ‘day of the Lord’ might be like. I remember as a child wondering what it would be like, though I was strongly influenced by the “Left Behind” movie. I remember having irrational rapture scares when my dad forgot to pick me up or when I would return to an empty house.
The return of Jesus is not something that I think about often. It seems so far away and not in touch with the reality of today.
I took a confirmation class at my church when I was in middle school. The day we talked about the day of the Lord, a student shared how she had a strong feeling it was going to be in her lifetime. My response was skepticism; “She’s crazy,” I thought. “She can’t know that.” Looking back, to have the mindset that Jesus is coming back soon, very soon, may help us to remember how it should influence our lives.
Personally, the return of Jesus does not influence they way I act or think. Peter poses the question, since we know, vaguely, that the day of the Lord is coming and we believe that God keeps promises, how then should we act? “What kind of people ought you to be?”
Peter advises that we be spotless and blameless, which I find to be extremely difficult. I also don’t like thinking that I just have to try harder, because inevitably I will fail. But what I do know is that God is patient and God’s patience means salvation.