PRAYER PRACTICE
SPOKEN PRAYER: Out loud, pray for God to speak to you through your reading. Praise God for giving us His word. Ask the Spirit to help you read with faith, and to live out what you hear from God through the passage.
DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Sudden Judgment with Certain Grace
by Pr. Dave Mann
What do the great flood and the Day of the Lord have in common? A lot! It is a common comparison for New Testament writers – 2 Peter 2:5; 2 Peter 3:5-7; Matthew 24:37-38; Luke 17:22-27.
Noah’s flood came suddenly but with advance warning and there were scoffers. The Day of the Lord will come suddenly but with advance warning, and there are scoffers, both in Peter’s day and in ours. Both have had multiple prophets and preachers who have clearly announced the impending judgment, but with ample time to repent of sin and take advantage of God’s provision for safety and salvation.
Peter declares (as an echo of Jesus’ teaching, Matthew 24:37-39), “The Day of the Lord will come as a thief.” No one knows the exact hour or time. That means that even though there are ample warnings, the moment when it happens will be sudden and without any opportunity for a “do-over.” Now is the time for wholesome thinking – to consider with all seriousness the words of the holy prophets and the commands of Jesus, as received through those sent by him.
Do not be fooled by the scoffers. They may be clever with words. They may have a distinguished tone in their manner of speech. But they are not wise in the ways of the Lord.
Since just as in the days of Noah, many will wish for another opportunity to repent after the door of the ark is shut. The Day of the Lord will come without a countdown. But one thing we do know now – it is one day closer than it was yesterday.
Given all this, what sort of people should we be? We should be grateful that God is providing us with plenteous opportunities to repent of our sins and to trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
One difference between the two events is that God used water to destroy the world in Noah’s day, but for the Day of the Lord, he will use fire. But it is the same God with the same call to repentance, with the same saving grace if we trust in his promise.
Lord God Almighty, thank you for the warnings sent by your prophets and apostles. May we and all we hold dear trust in your saving Word before the coming of that great and terrible Day of the Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
