You know when you make a big deal out of something pretty insignificant? Maybe your day didn’t start on the right foot, and you just hit a tipping point. Now you’ve completely lost perspective on the matter at hand and can’t seem to right your focus. Does this ever happen to you?
It’s easy to get caught up in the struggles of the daily grind. While we believe the very breath in our lungs is a gift from God, we lose our grasp on the miracle of life when the kids are fighting, a stressful project is due, or a relationship goes awry. It’s natural to focus on the things in our lives that need attention, but how can we do that without losing sight of the bigger picture?
In Peter’s second letter, he reminds believers not to lose sight of the greater story. For Peter, one of the most encouraging things to remember in times of trials was the coming Day of the Lord. So often, we focus on the death and resurrection of Christ but forget His promise to return. When we do, we lose sight of where our lives are headed.
Peter even said that there will be false teachers who question God’s timing and try to convince believers that Christ isn’t coming back. But our hope rests in the trustworthy promises of the Lord. And because Christ said He’ll return like “a thief in the night,” we need to be prepared for His arrival at any moment (1 Thessalonians 5:2).
What does it look like to be prepared? It’s not about storing up good deeds, because nothing we ever do will be perfect enough to deserve heaven. All we need to do is place our trust in Jesus, our Savior. He stands in the gap and covers all our sin. “Based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). These promises rest not on our merit, but on His.
In knowing that Christ will come back at any moment, the stressors of our lives seem less significant. In the new heavens and new earth, a bad grade on a test or an embarrassing moment won’t mean a thing. In fact, “Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). We will be with the one who created us, the one who fulfills our every need. In the midst of the messy and mundane, let’s refocus our eyes upward as we wait expectantly for the coming of the Lord.
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23 thoughts on "The Day of the Lord"
Thanks be to God
I love this reading today. I know that I all too often can get focused on the things of this life, and I forget that God’s kingdom is where my focus should be. When I’m in heaven, I won’t remember all of the little struggles down here on earth.
Amen
I am so guilty of focusing on the daily struggles of life and forget that our greatest promise from the Lord is in preparation right now to be fulfilled! No one knows when He will return, but what a great comfort in knowing that he WILL! I am thankful for studies like this that allow me to store up this truth in my heart to be a faithful, active follower of Christ while we patiently await his return!
✝️✝️✝️
“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 3:19). Not slack, but patient. He has not forgotten His promise. He is waiting for one more person to believe and be rescued. Saved from judgement. No one knows when His purpose will be accomplished. All we know is that His promise is sure. And His timing is perfect.
Llloñ
Oh Wendy…love seeing your name here and reading your wise words!!
Amen! Praying there is a new beginning coming for my best friend. He and I just connected after some time being away from each other and this devotional today reminded me that as much as I am on this spiritual journey for my own well-being. I am also on this journey for those closest to me.
As a mom of young kids, I feel I reach my tipping point multiple times in one day. The first paragraph of the commentary really hit home for me. All of this is so insignificant compared to what is to come. My Jesus saved me, My God loves me- nothing else matters.
Faith is not just about believing. Believing requires actions; we’re not saved by our actions but rather they reflect the realness of our belief. We are to be the kingdom; do justly, love mercy, walk humbly. Be about the Master’s business when he returns. May we multiply the talents He has given us, bearers of the Good News.
I hold onto that promise that one day my Jesus will come back for all of us! I long for that day when all our trials of life will pass a way for us to remember no more. My daughter felt depressed a couple of days ago. She actually miss school. She is only 13 years old and she was saying I wish we could just go HOME! And my response to her was, “me too“. I reminded her that in this life we are going to have trials and this is just preparing her for life later on. At least we know we have hope that Jesus will come for us one day. I love it how we were just having this conversation two days ago and here is this devotion, confirming HIS promise that JESUS is coming back for us.
I wait for the Day of the Lord, when He splits the eastern sky and reveals Himself in all His glory. Every knee will bow. But until then… We are not to rest on His laurels. True, our works do not save. Yet we are His disciples, commanded to go and tell until He comes. There is indeed work yet to be done in His name for His glory so that many more may know HE IS COMING AGAIN.
Tina, thank you for giving us a glimpse of what eternity looks like, for showing us that “every day is a Day of the Lord.”
God is making all things new and he continues to mold us into his image – starting now. Thanks be to God!
May my life also be an example to others, showing them glimpses of the new life God is preparing for us, not only in the future, but also today.
Praying for all believers! In this journey, we are surrounded by God (thanks Angie) and we will see Jesus face to face. We are challenged or encouraged to find the face of Jesus in those we interact with today. The young cashier, our husbands that depend upon us, the stranger that cuts us off in traffic, young children, etc.
There is a joy in the journey! There’s a Light we can love on the way.
There is a wonder and wildness to life and freedom for those who obey! (Michael Card)
Dear friends,
Let me stir up sincere understanding
Let me remind you
recall the words
Above all, be aware
Don’t overlook
It’s not a delay – it is My Patience
The day of the Lord is coming
Wait.
Righteousness will dwell solely
I spoke all into being
I wiped out every living thing,
leaving only Noah & his family
And the water surged.
I will give a new heaven and a new earth,
You will be my people
I, God, will be your God,
I will live with you!
I am making everything new.
These words are faithful and true.
IT IS DONE!
I AM the Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and end.
I give freely from the spring of the water of life
Conquer
I will be your God
and you will be my child.
Do you hear the crescendo? Take it slow. Let your heart and mind hold it. Drink it in like cool water to our parched soul. The God who WAS, IS, and will always BE, and we are His. Lift your hands! Offer praise!
(There is no one like our God)
(Amen)
(Hallelujah)
(King)
(Creator)
(Savior)
(Lord)
…May. We. Live. to Praise.
Thank you for sharing Tina. I think of the song by Michael W. Smith, “Surrounded.” It starts with the verse in scripture that says, “In the spirit of heaviness, put on the garment of praise.” This is how we fight our battles. It may look I’m surrounded but, I’m surrounded by You. I’ve been both singing and praying that, and several other songs of worship like I’m breathing lately, and I am so very thankful. Our God, the I AM. Rest is found in Him. Blessing upon you dear sister.
I was watching a show called Wretched on Cornerstone Television. He was showing clips of a pastor’s sermon. He was reminding the people that Jesus is the only way. He was quoting Charles Spurgon (not sure if it’s spelled correctly) and said that every sermon should be about Jesus. How true! He is everything. I was thinking how we are all wretched. I’ve done the comparison game and thought that I’m not that bad. However, that’s a lie. God is Holy, and none of us our righteous. Jesus is our righteousness! Vety thankful for Jesus and thankful God’s mercies are new every morning!
Yes!
Ah, the promise of seeing Jesus face to face and living with him in eternity! He is coming again. What a sweet and reassuring promise! With that thought in my mind and that prayer on my lips, I am ready for my day to begin!
This is so apt for me and the goings on in the last week!
In the last seven days I have said farewell to my beloved mum. Felt a tad lost. Rushed my son to hospital with suspected appendicitis. Only for him to be sent home.. Worried about my grandson who didn’t come home. Rushed my son again to the hospital again because he wasn’t getting better.. he was admitted and still in… all the while trying to do whst I have to do for others in terms of work…!
But God..
I say this often, and i will be keep saying this truth.
But God.. oh But God…
Monday morning felt like my world was crushing in, seriously. I felt beaten i just could take anymore and began to think and talk in the negative..
But God..
He reminded me that I was giving the enemy glory when I spoken aloud openly in words like that.
So I shifted my thinking, i began not only to pray but to worship too. I gathered ‘my people’ ‘my army’ and we prayed. We worshipped We gave thanks.
There is absolutely a bigger picture for our future, but honestly I believe He is here. In our here and now. In our moments, giving us a taste of promises and things to come..
Every day is a Day of the Lord.
Monday morning looked bleak.. Monday afternoon my grandson was home and my son had been made comfortable and was getting the care he needed to get better…
All PRAISE to Him who has promised !
Holding fast on to His promise. Standing on His word. Trusting in Him whose Word is truth and a salve to my soul. My heart. My life.
Thank you God. Thank you for everything..
Amen.
Happy Thursday Sisters, love wrapped hugs and prayers for you… xx
Thank you for sharing your heart Tina. The Lord touches many of us through your words. Peace to you from cold Pennsylvania.
Hugs Tina