Transformed – teen devotion – December 10, 2023
One truth shared: It is essential that we stay prepared and ready to meet Jesus at all times!
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
2 Peter 3:8-14
Prepare to Meet Him
“How come it takes so long?” That depends on what are you waiting for. To get picked up by your ride? For the food you ordered to get done? Because your parents won’t stop talking and you just want to get home?
The season of Advent focuses our attention forward to the coming of our Savior back to this earth. Christmas is coming… and so is Christmas break! We are tempted to ask, “How come it takes so long?” You aren’t alone. The apostle Peter wrote today’s words to some of his impatient friends who felt God was slow in returning on judgment day. “Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Peter encouraged them to just be ready for when Jesus returns. Why it is so important? “The day of the Lord will come like a thief.” Imagine a thief is planning to break into your house. Will he call you up earlier in the day and say, “Hey, I just want to give you a heads-up that I’ll be over tonight… midnight-ish.” That’s ridiculous! Here’s the point: If you know it’s a real possibility for a thief to break in on any night, then be prepared for it. Lock the doors. Turn on outdoor lights.
That’s the season of Advent. It focuses our attention forward to the coming of our Savior back to this earth. He’s given us a heads-up that his return will be like a thief in the night. Our only hope is to just be ready. The only way that we can stand before God holy and blameless as he desires is for our faith to be locked in on Jesus. We do that through regular and daily repentance. We lay ourselves bare before the Lord by recognizing our sins and then laying them before the Lord and asking for his forgiveness. We then stand confident in the forgiveness of Jesus that we have been cleansed of our sin and made holy in God’s sight! With faith in him, we are prepared to stand before God in judgment!
There’s so much going on this month of the year. Christmas is coming. No matter how impatient we might be, it is essential that we stay prepared as we wait for Jesus’ final coming.
Keep your focus. Be on your guard. Stay prepared!
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, there are so many distractions which grab our attention and attempt to pull our attention away from you as we await your return. Through daily repentance, help us to keep our eyes fixed on you at all times. Lead us to not grow impatient as we wait but to stay prepared and ready for your return. We ask this through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.
