Today's Reading: 2 Peter 3:3-14
Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 33:1-22; St. Matthew 27:11-32
But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:13)
In the name of Jesus. Amen. More stirring up today, this time from St. Peter. Today he stirs us up to watch out for scoffers in the last days. Many will disregard our Lord’s promise to return on the Last Day. They’ll persist in their unrepentant sins. They’ll revel in their unrighteousness. By their actions they will loudly proclaim just as St. Peter predicted, “Where is the promise of His coming?”
From the beginning, mankind has ignored his Creator. St. Peter notes that they “deliberately” ignore His creative power and work. Even after a thorough drowning in water, the righteous returned to their unrighteousness. The day of final judgment will come with fire and the ultimate destruction of the ungodly along with it.
In the Lord’s delay, you are no doubt tempted to join with the scoffers. Oh, you don’t join them with open voice. You join them when you live according to your sinful desires. You forget the promise of His coming. Will you continue in your unrighteousness just as so many have done from the beginning? Remember what God has done through water!
Yes, through water God once judged the earth, but through that same water God saved eight people, a new creation. The flood of water that saved Noah and His family foreshadows a greater water, the water of your Baptism. Through the water of your Baptism God has drowned your sin. You are a new creation. Baptism has saved you from the fire of God’s judgment by bringing you all that Christ won for you at Calvary.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise. He doesn’t wish that you perish. He’s patient with you. And today He stirs you up to revel in His righteousness while you wait for His return. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Almighty and eternal God, according to Your strict judgment You condemned the unbelieving world through the flood, yet according to Your great mercy You preserved believing Noah and his family, eight souls in all…Through the Baptism in the Jordan of Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, You sanctified and instituted all waters to be a blessed flood and a lavish washing away of sin. (A portion of Luther’s Flood Prayer, LSB 268-269)