Daily Devotional
Do You Know the Whole Truth?
“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The 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.”
2 Peter 3:8-9
August 19, 2023
Ponder This
The Lord has kept the door of mercy open for you. God is a God of mercy. And Peter answers the apostates with three things. He says, “There’s a memorable promise.” He says, “There’s God’s mighty power.” But there is also God’s merciful patience, “The Lord is . . . not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God is waiting for you to be saved. You say, “If God is so full of mercy, I don’t have to worry.” But in verse 10 Peter says the Day of the Lord will come. The wrath of God and the mercy of God are both attributes of God. If you see God as all wrath and no mercy, that’s only part of the truth. If you see God as all mercy and no wrath, that’s only part of the truth. When you make part of the truth all the truth, that becomes an untruth. God is not willing that any should perish, but the Day of the Lord will come.
- What do you tend to focus on more: God’s mercy or God’s wrath?
- Why is it important to understand both sides of God’s character?
Practice This
Write down the distinct characteristics that come to mind when you think about God. Assess where you see those things in Scripture.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
