the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 5 of 5
2 Peter 3:11-18
These final exhortations are not based on "the exceeding great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:4) like the previous ones, but on the instability of everything in the present state of things. Let us sometimes make a list of all those earthly goods which we hold dear, writing over them: "all these things shall be dissolved . . ." In this way we shall be kept from thinking too much of them. The very fact that we know these things in advance should bring about in us holy conduct (conversation – yet another word characteristic of Peter: see 1 Peter 1:15; 1 Peter 1:18; 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 3:1-2; 1 Peter 3:16) and godliness. Nothing encourages us more to separate ourselves from the world and from evil than the thought of the Lord’s imminent return. Furthermore there is no better encouragement to preach the Gospel, because His coming will mark the end of His patience concerning salvation (v. 15). Let us make an effort to be found as Christ would wish us to be when He returns (v. 14; Philippians 1:10), having grown somewhat in grace and in the knowledge of Him (v. 18).
The apostle has fulfilled his service; now he is ready to "put off his tabernacle". In giving glory "now and forever" to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ he points us to that eternal day to which we by faith look forward.
