Author: Scott Lane

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 3:10-18 (day five)

Pastor Peter’s final instruction and encouragement to these believers is one word- grow. “Make progress.” “Get forward.” “Become more and more like Jesus.” In a microwave and air fryer culture where we demand results in seconds or minutes, this is not the picture. It’s more like a smoker- taking hours upon hours to produce a finished product. “Low and slow” is the mantra for most who cook this way. So, how do you know when growth is happening?  With a smoker you use an internal temperature probe (see the temp increasing). How do you measure christian growth? Let me suggest like a smoker, mostly it happens slowly and internally. There are two primary probes- scripture (Hebrews 4:12) and the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16). But like a smoker there is  visible tangible evidence. Miguel Nunez offers the following questions to help discern and reveal growth:  Am I growing in my ability to love others? How much joy do I experience in my daily life? Is inner peace something I experience? How much have I grown in patience toward others and, especially, toward those who have sinned against me? How gentle or kind have I been today in dealing with others? Have I grown in humility or meekness? How often do I look at others and think they are proud? How am I doing with self control? Am I in control of my sinful impulses? How well am I controlling my anger? How do I speak to others?

“Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 3:8-9 (day five)

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”

The most challenging class I took in college was Greek. It was a three semester class. It was fascinating and exhilarating to study a biblical language. Every test (weekly) was “comprehensive”- meaning that for a year and a half, we were required to remember everything learned and taught from the beginning. Something read or presented (grammar rule, vocabulary word) in August of one year could (and often did) appear on a test in December the following year.
The Christian faith is “comprehensive,” meaning that the truths, insights, and promises of God are meant to be remembered and retained. What we learn and experience from the Lord is meant to stay with us in our hearts and minds forever. These early believers were quick to forget. So Pastor Peter continues to challenge them to remember (today’s text refers to Psalm 90). This kind of remembering is a spiritual discipline and also a facet of spiritual warfare. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “The devil doesn’t fill us with hatred for God, but with forgetfulness of God.”

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 3:1-7 (day five)

“that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.”

Here we have again, another call to remember. Peter goes from fiery (Chapter 2) to focused (Chapter 3). From who the false teachers are (character) to what they’re actually teaching (content). We need to be reminded that what Pastor Peter wants them to remember is not a small nugget of trivia tucked back somewhere in the Old Testament, but rather a chief doctrine that runs throughout the scriptures (as Peter mentions- prophets, Jesus’ words, apostles teaching).  Did you know (from precept austin): over 1800 references to the Lord’s return appear in the Old Testament, more than 300 references in the 260 chapters of the New Testament, 23 of the 27 books have references to the 2nd Coming. Remembering helps us think, hope, and live for God’s glory!!

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 2:17-22 (day five)

 “These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness.” 2 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Don’t you just love Pastor Peter’s heart?  We see that fiery emotional personality that first appeared in the gospels. Early as he just started following Christ, Peter was always ready to jump out, call out, and leave out- impetuous, reactive, and often uninformed. “Ready, Fire, Aim!!”

Yet God has redeemed his will, his heart, and his emotions. So that Peter’s passion and energy are used for God’s glory and effective ministry. Instead of being just an attacker, Peter is now also a protector. He is looking out for these new christians. He is caring for them as they begin to grow in the gospel. His attention is on both the false/fake teachers as well as the vulnerable christians. God has grown and shaped Peter’s heart and life. May The Spirit do that same refining work in us that we might be honed and shaped for service and ministry in the Kingdom of God!!

Re:Verse passage – 2 Peter 2:10-16 (day five)

Words are an invaluable treasure in God’s economy. He spoke the world into existence (Genesis 1). His Son is often referred to as The Word (John 1). He has intentionally chosen to reveal Himself in the scriptures (John 5). If words are that important and significant to the Lord, they should be to us as well. What and how we read and listen are important. Being intentional to “hear” what is being said (preached) is crucial. That is one of the “litmus tests” Peter prescribes in pointing out false teachers- their words. 3 times (revile) in this short passage, Peter points to what is being said (or not said) as a telling indicator of a false teacher. We must listen, read, and hear with supernatural discernment that comes from the Spirit. Wanna spot a fake?  Want clarity on their heart?  Want guidance on whom to trust and follow?  Pay attention to their words.  “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬ ‭ “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬-‭22‬