2 Peter Day 11 // I'd Like a Piece of Purity
Image by Cailin Valente
Peter begins today’s readings with a final exhortation. He says that while we look forward to the second coming,
“endeavor to be found by him [God] without spot or blemish” 2 Peter 3:14
Throughout this whole book Peter has been encouraging us to act as righteous followers of Christ. The second coming is meant to inspire us to act in holiness every day until we see Jesus face to face. To be able to see him we must be without spot or blemish. We must live lives of purity in every way.
We need to have a “peace of pure conscience before God” (Eugene E. Maly). Whatever we do to the person next to us, we do to Jesus. So, may our intentions be pure when dealing with our brothers and sisters in Christ. May our thoughts be pure. May our desires be pure. A prayer I like to say that helps me with this is, “May I always think kindly of others, speak kindly of others, and love them with my whole heart.”
Peter goes on to talk about the wisdom of Paul in regards of how we ought to act as God’s chosen ones. In Ephesians 4:30-5:5 Paul says that we must put “all bitterness fury, anger, shouting, and reviling” aside. This is a way to be spotless and blameless before God. Paul appeals not to human wisdom, but to divine wisdom when he says, “be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.”
Are we honestly doing this every day ladies? I find this so convicting. I need to be better at this!
Paul goes on to say, “So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love... immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among the holy ones....
In Romans 2:4 we read that it is because of God’s “kindness, forbearance, and patience,” that we still have an abundance of occasions in which to live this out! I’m definitely grateful that God has given me more time because I am still learning how to be kind and patient.
Finally, Peter exhorts us to look at suffering as a way to salvation. When thinking on a non-spiritual level it seems odd to say suffering is a gift
2 Peter 3:15 The goodness of suffering is a paradox. We must remember that suffering is not good as an end in itself, BUT it is good as a means to sanctification. ALL things work for good when we give them to God.
Peter reminds us that long-suffering is a gift of salvation. Suffering summons us to turn to God as our answer and consolation. It gives us opportunities to practice the virtues we’ve been talking about for the past two weeks! This in turn draws us closer to our Lord, which makes our salvation a reality. What a gift this is.☺
I pray you keep your eyes on Christ this day. Remember to love with your actions! Whatever you may be going through today, be consoled that good will come of it. All things work for good for those who love God!
<3 God bless you <3
