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(2 Peter 3:15 CEV) Don’t forget that the Lord is patient because he wants people to be saved. This is also what Paul said when he wrote you with the wisdom God had given him.
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our mini-series entitled, “Growing in Grace.” Yesterday I talked to you about living your life with a sense of urgency. My emphasis — which was actually Peter’s emphasis — was on living a peaceful life that is pure and blameless in God’s sight, and doing it quick, because no one knows when Jesus will return. In verse 15 Peter takes it a step further. Peter reminds us of something Paul also taught, and that is: the Lord has not returned yet because He wants people to get saved. The Lord’s patience gave us (you and I) an opportunity to be saved and His continued patience now gives others an opportunity to respond to the Gospel message. The New Living translation reads, “Our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. As you grow in the grace you receive, you should also grow in the grace you extend. Earlier in this series I told you that recipients of grace should be extenders of grace. If it was true then (and it was), it should be even more true now, because by this point you should have grown in grace and you should be continually growing in grace. The greater appreciation you have for the grace and mercy of God, the more you should be gracious and merciful towards others.
2. Have a sense of urgency about seeing souls saved. Someone took the time to minister to you. It probably took a multitude of people to share the love of Christ with you before you finally responded to the Gospel message. Remembering how long it took you will help you be patient with others as you share the love of God and the Gospel of Christ with them. Just don’t give up on them. Jesus will return soon. You and I don’t know when the clock will run out, so as long as we have time, we should be sharing the Good News about Jesus with the lost; and there should be a sense or urgency to our witness.
3. Ask God for the grace to reach the lost. God does not expect you to do anything that He does not equip you to do. If He expects you to do it, He equips you to do it, but if He equips you to do it, He expects you to do it. In the case of reaching the lost, the Bible is clear that God expects us to share the Gospel with those who do not know His Son Jesus. Since God requires this of you, then make a demand, in prayer, for the grace to reach the lost. God will give you what to say and how to say it, along with what to do and how to do it, in order to reconcile the world to Him. So if you are not sure how to witness to the lost, ask God, He will give you the grace to do it and you will experience the supernatural satisfaction that comes when God uses you to reach someone else.
4. Thank God for His patience. Not only was God patient with you and me, but God is patiently waiting for those who do not know Him today. Personally, I am thankful the Lord has not returned yet. There are several people I know who have not accepted Jesus as Lord yet, who I am believing God to be saved before Christ’s return. I am thankful that God is patient with them, and I keep them before God in prayer, believing to see them saved soon. Please do the same for those you are believing God to be saved.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your patience. Your Word promises us a return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is our soon-coming-King. Your Word also teaches us that You are not being slow concerning this promise, as some people think. You are actually being patient on purpose. Your Word says that You do not want to see anyone destroyed, and it is Your will that everyone repent. I am personally extremely thankful that You were patient with me. You sent people to me, to share the Good News about Your Son with me, in a way that I was able to feel loved and not judged, and you sent them to me over and over again. Your patience paid off and I responded to the Gospel message. I now thank You for Your patience with others. There are people whom I love who are not saved, that I want to see saved. I keep them before You in prayer and I ask You to send people to them, to share Your love and light with them in a way they can understand. And Father, You have given me the grace to do many things. I ask You to give me the grace to reach the lost. By faith I declare that You will give me the words to say and the things to do, in order to see people come to You. I enter this day thankful for my salvation, and prayerful for the salvation of the lost. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
