Daily Devotions
God's Patience
Reading for October 30th: Luke 14-16
Weekly reading for October 25-31: 2 Peter & Jude
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
This verse means a lot to me. It tells me that I can have confidence. It says that there is grace to help. It assures me that God is on my side; that God wants me to be saved.
When I look in the mirror I see a man with many flaws. I've worked and struggled with the flesh for much of my life, but the flesh has not been easy to put to death. The old man has died a thousand deaths. But this verse assures me that though I continue to stumble, my God is patient with me. He wants me to reach repentance and to be saved.
But there's another thing I see in this verse. I see God's desire for the lost to be saved. This verse explains the Great Commission. God has told you and me to go into all the world, because, as this verse plainly says, God wants all men to be saved. This verse doesn't teach universalism. Not all men will respond to this call. Not all will respond in faith. But God calls all. God loves all. Jesus died for all.
So I need to go out and find those who who are looking for him.
Father, thank you for your patience with me. Help me to repent of all my sins, both those I know of and those that are hidden from my view. Thank you for your love for all the world. Help me to reach out to them with the gospel that they might repent and be saved.
