2 Peter 3:17-18 – Maximize living

In these two verses, Peter concluded by summarizing what he had said, before rounding up with a doxology. Here, his thoughts were compressed so that we, his readers can be redirected to live our lives to the glory of God. We are to be on guard since we are now warned and are aware of the activities of false teachers and their erroneous teachings. We must not be misled by the errors of those unprincipled men, and be led to lose our steadfastness in Christ.

While shunning the negative was needful, the building of the positive was equally important. Thus Peter tells us believers to keep on growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We can do this by relying on His power and promises that he shared in the opening chapter of 2 Peter. We believers should also add to this grace, knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We should build on the relationship and get to know Him more intimately. While actively removing all the hindrances, we should diligently foster conditions that would ensure growth. While living for Christ’s glory here on earth, believers must also focus on the day of eternity, the time when our lives will be lived perpetually on a new plane.

Consistency is an important element if we are to experience a triumphant life. Let us learn to depend on the Lord and the grace He will supply for every experience. Yes, there will be difficult experiences that will baffle us, but we can be sure that God is still reigning and He is in control. Recently, my son reminded me of what Steven Curtis Chapman said in his song:

This is not how it should be, this is not how it could be

But this is how it is, and our God is in control

This is not how it will be, when we finally will see

We’ll see with our own eyes, He was always in control

And we sing holy, holy, holy is our God

And we will finally really understand what it means

And we sing holy, holy, holy is our God

While we’re waiting for that day

This is not where we planned to be, when we started this journey

But this is where we are, and our God is in control

Though the first taste is bitter, there will be sweetness forever

When we finally taste and see, that our God is in control

And we sing holy, holy, holy is our God

And we will finally really understand what it means

And we sing holy, holy, holy is our God

While we’re waiting for that day

We’re waiting for that day, we’ll keep on waiting for that day

And we will rise, our God is in control!