The Lord's Patience 

(2Pe 3:8-13) 



God is the loving Father of spirits(He 12:9). 

He gives birth to children and provides for them, and 

He patiently waits for them to mature. 



Faith is knowing this as grace, and 

The life of this faith is hastily doing the Father's will until the end. 



Though being patient does not refer to eternity, 

It requires a great deal of waiting and endurance, and 

Those with the most patience are parents for 

They are loving. 



God's patience was revealed since the beginning. 

Though He could have created all things in a moment, 

He patiently did it in six days to prepare for His plan. 

After warning Noah of the flood, 

God waited 70 years for him to prepare the ark(1Pe 3:20). 



Furthermore, the Law, the basic principles, was put in charge(Gal 3:24; Col 2:8), 

To teach Israel about God and 

He was patient with them for 1500 years. 



As such, the sanctuary was a reminder for 

God's patience and love for Israel. 



Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days(Jn 2:19-21), because 

Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body, 

He would truly reveal the love of the Father, for 

He is the incarnate Word who was at the Father's side in the beginning(Jn 1:1-3, Jn 1:14, Jn 1:18), 

Already decided to be revealed, who waited until His time(1Pe 1:19-20). 



As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished(Jn 19:30), declaring that He: 

1. Fulfilled the Father's will established before the creation and glorified Him(Jn 10:17-18; Eph 1:3; Php 2:8-11); 

2. Condemned the devil the origin of sin(1Jn 3:8); and 

3. Shed His blood as an atoning sacrifice, redeeming men, and revealed the Father's love(Jn 3:16; 1Jn 4:9-10). 

He rose and entered the kingdom of the Son He loves(Col 1:13). 



The Holy Spirit comes to those born-again by the blood of Jesus and 

Reveals the Father's patience. 



The man of the Spirit knows that 

God's patience is grace to him(1Co 2:12) and 

To not be destroyed he repents and is saved(2Pe 3:9-13). 

In order for him to arrive in the home of righteousness 

When the day of the Lord comes like a thief, 

He diligently uses the time that 

The Lord graciously extended for him as 

The time Moses' arm was raised(Ex 17:12) and 

The time sun was held in place(Jos 10:12-13). 



O Lord, 

I am grateful that You did not return 

While I was still lost in the world. 

I am grateful that You did not return 

While I walked away from Your grace. 

I am grateful for the Father's love that waited for me patiently. 

If You give me another year, I will do better. So help me! 

Amen.