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But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him (2 Peter 3:8-15a)
If you've ever ordered something you really wanted from an online retailer, you know about waiting. If you ordered something you really can't live without, you really know about waiting. There's tracking numbers that you can input online and it will tell you just exactly where your item is (and I just misspelled item and it corrected itself to time). And, if you ordered something you really want from China, you really, really, know about waiting. Advent is about waiting. We have the first gift that John 3:16 tells us about: "For God so loved the world, He gave;" and that would be a good place to stop to think about this great love behind this great gift; "His only begotten Son so that whosoever believeth would not perish, but have everlasting life." For us the question is, what have we done about it?
Advent, as this passage shows, is also about awaiting the second gift, Christ's return. The title for today's devotional comes from The Message version of the Bible, and it states the obvious; those who love God should not be afraid of Christ's coming, but instead be awaiting it. At the very least we should not be surprised by it. "Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again." How often have we said that? Most of you said it just two days ago in worship, for it was Communion Sunday and this is one of the responses we say in our worship. The writer of this epistle stresses time; God's time is different from our time. We may think God is slow or way behind, but God's time works according to God's plan, not ours. If God's time was like our time, many of us would already have perished, the writer says. God does not want anyone to perish, but to come to the fullness of life in Jesus Christ, through our repentance. When the Lord comes will be "like a thief," for no one knows the day nor hour; but our job is to maintain (or obtain) a life of holiness and godliness; meaning, live a life like Jesus, at peace with God, with ourselves and with one another. Our live should be blameless and without blemish, and filled with the patience that only God can give to us.
PRAYER: Loving God, fill me with You and empty me of me. Grant me love, peace, and patience. Help me to live a life that glorifies You in all things and all ways. Help me to enjoy the blessings of this day and to live a holy and God-like way. This I pray in Christ Jesus my Lord and Savior, whose arrival I await, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show love to those who need love.
Eradio Valverde
Prayer update: Rev. Virgilio Vasquez Garza underwent his surgery and awaits news on how effective that way. The goal is to lower the pressure in his eye, so please continue to pray for his healing. Rev. Scott Bradford await an office procedure to provide more mobility and assist in his healing, so please continue to pray for him. Our prayers for the community of San Marcos, who yesterday lost a police officer in the line of duty. While on his day off, serving a warrant, he was gunned down by the one being served the warrant. This officer leaves behind a wife and four children. Pray for the end of violence among us.
