14 So, beloved, since you are looking forward to these things, be diligent and make every effort to be found by Him [at His return] spotless and blameless, in peace [that is, inwardly calm with a sense of spiritual well-being and confidence, having lived a life of obedience to Him]. 15 And consider the patience of our Lord [His delay in judging and avenging wrongs] as salvation [that is, allowing time for more to be saved]; just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him [by God], 16 speaking about these things as he does in all of his letters. In which there are some things that are difficult to understand, which the untaught and unstable [who have fallen into error] twist and misinterpret, just as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
2 Peter 3:14-16 (AMP) 中文
Work while waiting
As we are waiting for this promised (v13) catastrophic event Peter has introduced, Peter tells us how to wait, what spiritual work to do. We look forward to it. Not so much as a child looks forward to a trip to DisneyLand, but looking toward this future event with anticipation and preparation.
How do we prepare? We make every effort, we work diligently to be found spotless and blameless when He returns (at the rapture, or our own death). And to be peaceful. NLT has it as, “to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.” We would term this as our sanctification. We become more and more like Christ, increasing in holiness and decreasing in sinfulness.
God’s patience
Peter repeats this character of God – His patience. It is a sign of His love and desire for all to know Him (v9). Peter calls us to consider God’s patience. We could see it as a call to think and meditate on God’s patience. He has been patient with us – not just for salvation, but for the long road of sanctification.
Intra-Bible confirmation
Nestled in this passage is a very key section in which Peter not only acknowledges Paul but his writing, his letters. And not just letters from his own hand, but “according to the wisdom given him” – by God. Peter is testifying to Paul’s letters (Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, etc) as inspired by God.
And guess what, for those of us who have struggled through and wrestled with Paul’s letters – we’re in good company. Peter also acknowledges they are difficult to understand. Yet they are understandable. However, he notes that there are those (likely referring back to the false teachers of Chapter 2) who misinterpret and twist what Paul has written.
RЯeflection
- When we consider the evil in this world and those we judge as wicked, we also may desire their destruction – to “make the world a better place”. But in this, we usurp God’s sole right to judge for only He can judge righteously. We also oppose His intent in showing patience – that, in love, He may accomplish His most glorious work of saving souls.
- How are you doing in your efforts to be sanctified? It goes beyond praying and asking God to do the work. We have our role to play. We need to make the difficult decisions to die to ourselves and live for Him. It is through our daily spiritual disciplines of reading and studying His word, communicating with our Father through repentance and confession, prayer, requests, fellowshipping with others, worshiping Him in song, giving of our resources for His work, etc.
