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2 Peter 3:14
The Apostle Peter has tied this second of his epistles together throughout in a series of commands (from God through salvation in His Son Jesus) and our application of them. He begins this 14th verse of 2 Peter 3, once again, with the word “Therefore,” and we must look to ensure that we understand why the “Therefore” is there for. As persons living, “‘in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God,’ and ‘according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells’” (2 Peter 3:11-13, NKJV). “Therefore,” as we look forward to these things, Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:14 to, “be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;”. With the word “diligent” the Apostle Peter takes us back to the beginning of this letter as he told us how to conduct ourselves in the qualities that a Christian should possess. He tells us in 2 Peter 1:5-8 to give all diligence to add to our faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. And in verse 8 he tells us why: “For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is also very important that we remind ourselves as Peter states in 2 Peter 1:9-11, “he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
This is a command that we should, “be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14) as we apply diligently to our faith virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 Peter 1:5-7).
It would be redundant for me to state a practical application for this lesson as the lesson itself is the practical application. The Apostle Peter has given us a good explanation of how we should live a godly life that is pleasing to Almighty God through salvation in His Son Jesus. He proclaims in 2 Peter 1:1-4, “To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
Dear LORD,
You teach us through Your Word as You inspired the Apostle Peter to write for us that it would inspire us today and for always to be diligently seeking to live godly lives in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Please give us strength through applying the seven qualities that Peter speaks of to our faith in Christ Jesus that we would, “be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless” as You have taught us in today’s lesson – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.