Dinner: Timeliness and Holiness

2 Peter:8-9, 11b-12

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 Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance...

...You ought to live holy and godly lives 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. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

There are two themes presented here. The first is about Gods' timing. Peter tells us that with the Lord, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. He goes on to say that the Lord is not slow in keeping promises, at least as we mortals understand slowness. It has been, and continues to be, my belief that many are praying for Adam's healing according to scripture...according to God's promise. One of these promises appears in the book of James.

James 5:15

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

I continue to believe that God is working a healing in Adam. Full recovery will happen according to God's schedule, not ours.

The second theme is one that has already shown up in prior posts — holiness (quite intentional as it is Holy Week). Peter reminds us that we ought to live holy lives. What does it mean to live a holy life? Let's take a look at a definition:

Ho´ly

a. 1. Set apart to the service or worship of God; hallowed; sacred; reserved from profane or common use; holy vessels; a holy priesthood.

2. Spiritually whole or sound; of unimpaired innocence and virtue; free from sinful affections; pure in heart; godly; pious; irreproachable; guiltless; acceptable to God.

If I was unsure about the meaning of holiness, the dictionary has made it quite clear to me. My life is to be set apart to the service and worship of God. I am to be spiritually whole...free from sinful affections...pure in heart...acceptable to God. The bad news is that I cannot be all those things. The good news is that Jesus is. Jesus is our high priest. He alone makes us acceptable to God. Because Jesus is holy, he makes us holy.



Pray

As we pray, let's remember to ask:

• That Jesus would make us holy in the presence of God.

• That God would honor His promise in scripture — that He would honor our prayers in faith with Adam's healing, according to His timing.

• That God would help Adam adjust to his new environment in Orlando...the same for Amy and Mackenzie.

And, remember to give God thanks for the work that He has done in Adam, including the increasing volume in his voice (read Here I am Lord)!