2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 

People in Peter's day were saying that God isn't real, because the world just keeps going on as it always has.  Peter explained that God is real, and He's not being slow.  He's being patient.

God's desire is for everyone to be saved.  Not everyone will be, because being saved means submitting your life to Him.

​Have you submitted your life to God?  He is waiting for you.

Matthew 7:15   “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves."

Jesus told us there would be wolves in sheep's clothing, and that they would infiltrate the church.  Even though they would look, act, sound and smell like sheep, they would be hungry wolves ready to destroy the work that God is doing in our lives.

They would appear to be telling the truth, but they would really be lying.

How can you tell the truth from a lie?  Search the Scriptures.

Acts 17:10-11   The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.    Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Be like the Bereans.  Don’t take anyone’s word, mine included, without examining the Scriptures for yourself.  Hold each one’s words up to the scrutiny of God’s Word and see if it stands as the truth before holy God.

John 8:12   Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Jesus is the light of the world.  We know that.  We were once in darkness, but following Christ, the light of the world, results in us having the light of life within us.

Jesus made another statement that seems similar:

John 9:5   As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 

Jesus qualified his statement.  He is the light of the world for as long as he is in the world.  We know that Jesus will always be the true light, but he made a shocking statement when he gave the Sermon on the Mount:

Matthew 5:14-16   “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Jesus called us the light of the world.  He handed the torch off to his followers to carry on the work of being the light.  We have his light within us, and we are called to shine the light of the world into a dark and desperate world.  Paul put it this way:

Philippians 2:14-16a   Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life …

How can we shine the light of Jesus into our dark and desperate world?  The first step is to hold fast to the Word.  Hang on tightly to Jesus and keep looking into the Word of God.  There you will find all you need to light your way.

2 Peter 1:3-4   His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

God has called us to Himself, He has given us life, and He has even given us godliness through Jesus.  He has promised us that we will be conformed to the image of Jesus, and “become partakers of the divine nature” as we live for Him instead of for our own sinful desires.

God has "granted to us his precious and very great promises" beginning with salvation.  And it doesn't end there.  In fact, his promises will never end.  Eternity will be filled with the joy of living in His promises forever.

​Which of God's promises mean the most to you?

Romans 7:24   Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

We have all sinned.  Every one of us.  Even the Apostle Paul, the one people think of as a Super-Christian.  If he sinned, and if he knew that he was living in a "body of death", we can admit that we are, too.

All have sinned.  You, me, and Paul!  Who will deliver us?

Paul went on in verse 25:  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

He is our savior and our deliverer.  Do you know Him?

Romans 12:9-13
 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.  Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

This passage could be titled:  Life In A Great Church

Does this list describe your life?  How can you make life in your church great?  What needs to change in you to make it happen?

Romans 6:22   But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

If you have given your life to Christ, you have been set free from sin.  God is leading you to sanctification.  That means He is making you holy.  Every day as you give yourself to live for Him, God is conforming you more and more into the image of Jesus.

We have eternal life, yes, but we also have the immediate joy of growing more like Jesus every day!

Acts 4:29-31   
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

The apostles had just been arrested and released.  But instead of praying for safety like you and I often do, they prayed for boldness as they celebrated the fact that they were found worthy of suffering for the sake of the Name.

God answered that prayer twice.  He physically shook the building.  And He, in the form of the Holy Spirit, shook up the apostles, giving they the boldness they had asked for.

What do you pray for?  What do you expect God to do as a result?  If you pray for boldness, He WILL answer!  Then whatever happens next will be the result of God working in your life!

​Do you dare?

Hebrews 10:24-25   And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

This is why we need to be together in church.  Where else do we challenge each other "to love and good works"?  What better way than being together to encourage each other?  The Day of the Lord's return is drawing near.

Do you have a community of believers that you can count on to lift you up when you need to be encouraged?  Do you encourage others who need to know the love of Jesus through you?

Let's keep being together to love each other in this way.  And what better place to be together than in church?!!!

Romans 8:1   There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

If you have received the forgiveness of Jesus by confessing your sin, believing that Jesus died to take away that sin, and rose again from the dead to bring you new life, and trusting Him with your life, you are not condemned.

Jesus has taken away all your sin.  There may be consequences for the things you have done, but there is no condemnation.  God sees you as pure and holy.  He looks at you and sees the sacrifice of Jesus.

That is not a license to sin.  That is a reason to be so grateful that you stop sinning and live your life for Him.  It's called being thankful.