Week 50 Day 7
Russ and I go backpacking
and have been out for two weeks at a time.
Always after just a few days on the trail we start fantasizing
about what special treat we will eat as soon as we get home.
For me, it is the local breakfast bar with lots of fresh fruit.
For him, it is a big fat hoagie.
We would talk about those fantasies every day.
We laughed and made jokes about them.
The more miles we covered, the more we knew exactly
what we were going to do just as soon as we got home.
Those fantasies made the pain of the hike more bearable.
We could endure the plain fare of the trail,
the rice,
the oatmeal,
no ice for 2 weeks!
Because at the end of the trip we would feast.
Peter knew that his pilgrims needed to hold a picture before their eyes
that would help them endure, too.
keep your eyes on Jesus
focus your mind on him
remember that he suffered too
At the end of the trail you will FEAST in the kingdom of God forever
And this is no fantasy.
WAITING FOR THE LORD'S RETURN
God is not slow. God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish.
II Peter 3 & Jude
1Beloved, I now write this second epistle (in both of which
I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2that you may
be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy
prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the
Lord and Savior, 3knowing this first: that scoffers will come
in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4and
saying, "Where is the promise of His coming?"
8Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one
day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count
slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any
should perish but that all should come to repentance.
10The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, the
heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will
melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in
it will be burned up. 11Since all these things will be dissolved,
what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and
godliness, 12looking for and hastening the coming of the day
of God. 13Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for
new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
14Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be
diligent to be found in peace, without spot and blameless;
15consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--
as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom
given to him, has written to you, 16in all his epistles, speaking
of these things, some of which are hard to understand, and
untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction.
17You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand,
beware lest you are led away with the error of the wicked;
18but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus.
1Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,
to those who are called, sanctified by God, and preserved in
Jesus Christ. 20Beloved, building yourselves up in faith and
prayer in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in the love of God,
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus unto eternal life.
24Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and
to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with
much joy, 25to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory,
majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
This Bible passage was condensed from the NKJV
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