Saturday Devotional

SATURDAY, December 12 – God's Time Table

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (II Peter 3:8)

The Bible speaks often of the second coming of Christ, as did Jesus Himself when He was here with us. The early Church thought His coming was imminent. But we often forget that God’s timetable is different than ours. We cannot comprehend it, because our minds are finite and God is infinite. He can look at a thousand years from now as if it were a thousand years ago in ages past. God created time - “In the beginning...” (Genesis 1:1). Peter wrote this letter as a way of reminder to all Christians to not be carried away by deceitful doctrine or by mockers who say that all things will continue just as it was from the beginning of creation. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah, how swiftly they were destroyed. Or the flood which came suddenly and swept away all but eight people from the face of the earth. John Calvin writes, “Peter distinctly mentions two things, the power and the coming of Christ. Christ had been manifested in the flesh, and He had exhibited power. Thus, we have the whole gospel. We know that He, the long-promised Redeemer, came from heaven, put on our flesh, lived in the world, died, and rose again. We perceive the end and fruit of all these things: that He might be God with us; that He might cleanse us from the defilements of the flesh, consecrate us as temples to God, deliver us from hell, and raise us up to heaven; that He might by His death make an atonement for the sins of the world and reconcile us to the Author of righteousness and of life. He who knows and understands these things is fully acquainted with the gospel.” “The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps.”  (Proverbs 14:15). Even though we are told not to be engrossed in timetables, we eagerly look for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to live our lives based on His return; and it is imperative that we learn how to think rightly. We are not to be like the Jews of Jesus’ day who, since no word had been heard from God for 400 years, could not comprehend that it finally happened in their time – and most didn’t recognize it. He has given His followers everything we need for life and godliness. He provides daily for all our needs and most of our wants; He protects and shields us with His mighty power; He is the only One who gives true joy and purpose to our lives. His grace is always sufficient, so wait for His timetable and live your life God’s way!

TODAY’S PRAYER: Father, thank you for Jesus; for salvation He provided by His blood shed on the cross; for the hope of the resurrection and the return of our Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read Chapter 3 of II Peter;  what is God speaking to you?_________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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“Circumstances do not make men, it is their reaction to circumstances that determines what kind of men they will be.” – A.W. Tozer, That Incredible Christian