2 Peter 3:1-3

2 Peter 3:1-3

This already, beloved ones, is the second time I wrote to you all in which I stir your sincere mind up in remembrance to think again about the saying that has been proclaimed by the holy prophets and the commandments of your apostles of the Lord and Savior.  That is, first of all, those who mock will come upon the last days in mocking after behaving according to their own desires.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

As we open this last chapter of Peter, we hear Peter remind his audience that this is not the first time that he has spoken to them about certain things.  He wants to cause them to remember an earlier teaching.  I think there are at least two reasons that this might happen.  First of all, Peter is making sure that they know this is an important point.  Human beings don’t often get things the first time they hear them, so in the really important areas we need to make sure they hear them more than once.  Second, Peter is helping them to see that the things that we learn can be applied to life in the here and know.  Sometimes when we are learning something we miss opportunities to apply what we are learning because it is so new.

Second Thought:

Furthermore, Peter reminds his audience that the things about which he is talking is not even originating with him.  God holy prophets have said these messages for hundreds – if not thousands – of years.  Jesus own apostles have taught these things.  This is not a new message.  What Peter is teaching is a teaching that has been around for a very long time.

Do you find comfort in hearing about the continuity of the message?  Why is it meaningful to know that the same message that was proclaimed in anticipation of the Messiah is proclaimed in the aftermath of His coming?

Third Thought:

So what is this message?  Peter begins by focusing on the mocking of the people.  Peter lets us know that there will be people who come upon the last days – or even their last days – in mocking.  There will always be people who are pursuing their own desires and their own goals instead of following Jesus and the ways of our Lord.  I find it remarkable to think that this is really the first focus of Peter.  Peter’s concern is that we should remember to not pursue our own desires but rather submit to God and His desires.  Peter reminds us that we are to be humble before our God rather than being self-centered.

Where is your focus?  What is your life spent pursuing?

Passage for Tomorrow: 2 Peter 3:4-7