The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
(2 Peter 3:9-12 KJV)
As I was reading Gustaf Wingren's "Gospel and Church" last night it made me consider what kind of holy conversation and godliness we actually carry with us when we leave the church building after worship. Are our hearts and minds so filled with the Good News that we cannot help but carry the message (in words and in deeds) out into the community? Or maybe we've been waiting for the service to get over so we can get on our couches and watch a football game? Maybe you were in such a hurry for worship to be over so that you go and sit alone in your hunting blind so you did not hear the message the pastor was bringing to you. Leisure time is not a bad thing and it can even be a better thing if you are enjoying them with others. But, do not let them become the most important thing. Do not let them become more important than caring for and sharing the love of God with your neighbor.
For indeed, the more important thing is sharing the love of God with those who are in need of either physical assistance or spiritual food which is the word and love of God. That can happen with something as simple as being present for them.
In St. Peter's second letter we are reminded that the Lord is long-suffering and wishes that all people should repent and be saved. He is not willing that any should perish. How will that take if we are not sharing his love by caring for our neighbors and being in community with them? How will that happen if we don't relieve the heavy burdens that they carry within themselves by reminding them that in Christ their sins are all washed away. They (and we) are forgiven. It definitely won't happen sitting on a couch alone watching very rich false idols. (Yes, I have been warning about these false idols for a few decades and have been asked by parishioners not to do that. LOL I will keep reminding them to beware of false gods.)
In this season of Advent let us not only prepare for the coming of our Lord; but, help others to prepare for it as well and to rejoice in the promised Kingdom of God for all who believe in him.
May God help us to reveal to others the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.
God's Peace - Pr. J.
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