It Is Great to Alliterate!

Daily Reading:  2 Peter 3

Scripture Focus: 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. (2 Peter 3.9)

Devotional Thought: Like Pastor Scott, we think "It is great / To alliterate!" 

This verse lends itself perfectly to a meaningful alliteration:

·       There are a lot of promises in the Bible. Out of the 31,173 verses, 7,487 are God's promises. We underline them in our Bibles.  Since "a promise is only as good as the one who makes it," we know we can trust God's promises, his "precious and very great promises" (2 Peter 1.4). He will be faithful to keep all these promises and will not be slow in doing so, even if we think he is slow. His timing is always perfect.

·       God is patient with us, waiting for all to come to repentance.  "Your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish" (Matthew 18.14, NIV).  Think of his patience throughout the Old Testament - with the patriarchs Noah, Jonah and others. The children of Israel were constantly sinning and turning away from God, yet he had patience with them as he does with us.

·       The third word, perish, is one to avoid.  Jesus said, "I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13.3).  It sounds like an ominous promise - one that God does not want for anyone. He is not willing that any should perish, but for all to come to repentance.

Are you trusting his promises?  Is he teaching you patience?  Have you come to repentance so that you will not perish?

Dale Noel and Justin Specthrie

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your great and precious promises!  Thank you for your patience with me when I have trouble remembering to wait for you.  And, thank you that you were not willing for me to perish, but rather  to reach repentance.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 59.1-9

1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me;

2 deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men.

3 For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD,

4 for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see!

5 You, LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah

6 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.

7 There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips-- for "Who," they think,"will hear us?"

8 But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.

9 O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress.