The Day of the Lord

Daily Reading:  2 Peter 3

But the day of the Lord will come... What sort of people ought you to be? (2 Peter 3.10-11)

Devotional Thought: No other teaching in the church has been accompanied by as much sensation as that of the coming of the Lord.  As he closed his  letter about false teachings, Peter was quite concerned that his readers be prepared for “The Day of the Lord" for it will come…”  Make no mistake about it.  Jesus Christ is returning and the end of all things is coming.  Since it is coming “like a thief” (unannounced, totally unexpected), we must be constantly ready.  We buy alarm systems and locks and do our best to be ready in the event a thief shows up.  We should take even more precautions to be ready for the return of the Lord, for much more is at stake.

So, what kind of people ought we to be?

• Holy and Godly (v 11).  "Without holiness, no one shall see the Lord."  To be ready, we need to be holy – set apart for God.  We also need to be godly – like God in behavior, disposition, and attitude.

• Forward-looking (v 13).  We do not dwell in the past.  That day is a grand and glorious day, a day that will outshine all days that have come before.  In order to have that forward-looking attitude, then we must have peace with God, sharing in his love.  Perfect love casts out fear.

• Forward-acting (v 12).  We – by participation in Kingdom activities – actually speed the coming of the Lord.  It’s not that the day will come sooner on the calendar.  But, as we are engaged in his work, we will find that we don’t have enough time to get everything done!

Let us make every effort to be the kind of people that welcome the Day of the Lord!

Prayer: Lord, you are coming again.  There will be a new heaven and a new earth.  Help me to be ready and help me to help others to be ready through my prayers and my testimony.  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.