Monday, June 25, 2012

Live Accordingly

DEVOTION 2 PETER LIVE ACCORDINGLY 2 Peter 3:11-13 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. NIV It seems rather clear just exactly what kind of behavior is expected from those of us who claim we are born again, or followers of Christ, believers, or Christians. Holy and Godly lives are the words used here, which carry a whole lot of implications. If we were to open them up and see inside, we would think it is impossible. To be holy carries so much meaning in the sense that it could imply that we should live as one set apart for God, but in the sense of what is said, it clearly carries the meaning, in a moral sense, to live pure, sinless, upright, holy lives. Does that mean perfection? It certainly means we should not ever accept being less then holy, that we should make that our goal, or desired lifestyle. We will fail? More than likely, not that we should make excuses, but we will fail at times, yet it still remains our desire to be holy, to live in a manner which pleases God, not our self. That is how this godly living fits in as it implies living in respect of God, or reverence of him. People who do not respect him will not live a holy life; it will not be their priority as it is with those of us who call him Lord. So how do we speed the coming of the day of the Lord? The actually word here implies to desire earnestly its coming, to want it to hasten, to speed up. This would seem to be saying we should not get too comfortable with our lives here, getting all catch up in the pursuit of earthly things, earthly goals and ambitions. We should not be looking forward to the day we can have this thing or do that activity for the sake of self-gratification, but rather use our time for the benefit of the Kingdom of God, looking forward to the time when all this we now know in the physical will be gone and a whole new heaven and earth will be our home, for all of eternity. Now does God bless us with good things and a good life here on this earth? For the most part, at least for us who live in the United States, yes he does, but what about those who live in the 3rd world places, or in countries who persecute believers in Christ? They most likely look forward to the coming of the Lord more than we do, for we have so much of the creature comforts and freedom to worship God in the manner we do. But let us not get complacent in our behaviors. Let us focus on what is to come, and live accordingly.

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