THE LONGSUFFERING LORD

2 Pet 3:9

Morning Meditation 3/6/2013

2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

SEEMING DELAY HAS A PURPOSE

Jesus has promised to return and receive us to Himself. The word of God teaches us that His coming is imminent, i.e. He could come at any moment. We have been waiting on His return for two thousand years. It is a long time for us but only a short time for Him. 2 Peter 3:8, "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." Some were questioning the time of His return. Peter tells us that His seeming delay has a purpose.

GOD IS LONGSUFFERING WITH THIS WORLD

He tells us the God is “Longsuffering to usward.” God does not want to lose one person to eternal damnation. God’s delay is giving us ample opportunity to trust Him for salvation. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

GOD IS LONGSUFFERING WITH THE SAVED

Peter says that God is longsuffering to usward. The word “usward” includes Peter and all the living saints. The living saints need to clean up their lives. God says, “Be ye holy for I am holy. We can change here but not after the rapture. It will be too late to change then. There will be saved people saved so as by fire. They will suffer great loss of rewards. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

GOD IS NOT SLACK CONCERNING HIS PROMISE

God is not slack concerning His promise as some men count slackness. We cannot judge God according to man’s standards. God is not willing that any should perish. God loves the world and gives man every opportunity to repent and believe the Gospel. When the Lost stand before God at the Great White Throne judgment they will be without excuse. Romans 1:20, "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:"

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White