June 30, 2021
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. – 2 Peter 3:9
From the time of his forgiveness and restoration (John 21), the apostle Peter spent the rest of his life sharing the gospel of His Lord. The great promise from Peter is that the day of the Lord will soon be with us. Peter’s sermon on Pentecost starts a revolution of people who want a new kind of kingdom, they are tired of the tyranny of which they have been a part, and now hope in something better.
As the message spreads, it’s Peter who initially takes the gospel to the gentiles (Acts 10), to those who were not Jewish, or a promise of the prophets. In doing so, Peter then has to defend his actions to the rest of the community in Jerusalem who didn’t understand the broadness of the gospel that could go to those who were on the outside (Acts 11). As the church broadens and expands to places all over the known world, those who are already in continue to question who should be in and who should be out. Who is accepted and loved by the Lord, what must be changed, who can be saved. Yet, all of these questions arise from human origin, and human interpretation, and not from God.
In his second letter to the churches dispersed across the known world, Peter’s hope was that this letter would be shared from church to church, as was done with other letters from the apostles. He shares again the wonder of being an apostle of the Lord, witness to God’s true messiah, and calling to those who have heard this message to remain faithful in the midst of what could be coming in the future.
Peter, at this point is near the end of his time, he knows that soon persecution will remove him from this earth, yet he remains faithful to his Lord, and knows that the Lord will come with great glory, but patience and endurance is needed in our faith; to grow a disciples, and to continue the work of sharing the gospel of peace.
Peter, I believe, after all he had seen in the broadness of the Lord’s forgiveness, reconciliation, and love saw that the work had not yet been complete. That God would not stop until all had the opportunity to hear and accept the grace and life God is freely giving. Therefore, he speaks to those who have heard him and throughout the ages, that if the Lord’s coming is delayed, it is because the work of the believers is not yet complete. The Lord is being patient with humanity, with all people, and even with you and me. The lord is being patient so that we can finally understand that the kingdom of heaven is big enough for all, that all have access to God’s grace, mercy and love. As the lord is patient in his coming, it is for our own opportunity of salvation. As Peter ends this letter he reminds us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, who did not shun anyone, but called all to be loved, to worship in spirit and truth, to receive life and forgiveness of sin, and go forward rejoicing at what God has done. I hope the Lord finds us rejoicing at the glory of God for what he is doing even now, and may our hearts look to who we can offer the love of Christ to continue to build the kingdom of heaven.
Grace & Peace,
Sam