Latest / The Daily Word / July 29 – God's Patience, Our Mission
Transcript
- Robert Rosales: Hey, good morning, good afternoon, or good evening, Lakeshore family. Whatever time of day you're joining us, welcome to the Daily Word Podcast. For those of you I haven't had the pleasure of meeting, my name is Robert Rosales. And alongside my wife Yolanda, we have the honor of serving as campus pastors at our Lakeshore Gastonia location. Now, those of you who are joining us for the first time, let me just tell you. This podcast is a simple space we share each day to slow down, open God's word, and pay attention to what He's saying. As a Lakeshore church family, we're committed to meeting with God daily, not out of religious routine, but out of relationship, through scripture, through prayer, and by capturing what the Holy Spirit is stirring in our hearts and how it connects to our everyday lives. We're walking together through the life. Journal reading plan. And today we'll be focusing on the New Testament portion from that plan. Now, just as a reminder, when I invest time with the Lord, I try to keep things uncluttered. My Bible, my journal, something to write with, and of course, a highlighter to mark what stands out in the scriptures. Also, want to encourage you, we also follow the SOAP method, scripture, observation. Application and prayer. It's a simple and practical tool that's laid out in our life journal. And it helps us not just read the scriptures, but to respond to God through our daily reading. Now, before we jump into today's passage, come on, take a moment with me. Let's agree in prayer and ask the Lord to speak to us. Lord, as we open your word, we ask that you would open us by your spirit. Make your truth come alive in us, give us ears to hear, hearts to receive, and courage to respond. Speak, Lord, we are listening. In Jesus' name. Amen. Well, friends, today's passage for July twenty-ninth comes from Second Peter chapter three, and I journaled from verse nine. Let me read it out of the New King James. The Lord is not slack concerning his promises. As some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. In other words, God is wanting everyone to come to a saving relationship through Jesus. So the title of my journal entry is this God's patience, our mission. Come on, say it with me. God's patience, our mission. Here's my observation. It's kind of beefy. Lean in with me. There are moments when it seems like God is taking his time. Peter wrote to believers who were hearing the same question we still hear today. If Jesus is coming back, what's taking so long? Some assumed God's delay meant he was slow to keep his promises. Others mocked. The very idea that Christ would return. But Peter gives us an entirely different perspective. God's delay is not a sign of weakness, it's a demonstration of mercy. Peter says the Lord is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. What a remarkable glimpse into the heart of God. He's not indifferent towards those who are far from him. He does not delight in the thought of anyone perishing. His desire is that people would turn from their sin and find life in Christ. Every day that the Lord delays his return is another day of opportunity, another day for someone to hear the gospel, another day for a prodigal to come home, another day for a hardened heart to suffer. Another day for a lost soul to be saved. Amen. As believers, it's easy to read this verse and simply be grateful that God was patient with us and we should be. If the Lord had returned before we came to Christ, where would we be? But I don't think Peter intended this verse to leave us merely thankful. I think he intended us to make us. Purposeful. If God's heart is for people to come to repentance, shouldn't our hearts reflect his? If he is patiently giving people time to respond to the gospel, shouldn't we be faithfully taking the gospel to them? Sometimes we become so focused on waiting for Christ's return that we forget what he told us to do while we wait. We're supposed to make disciples. We're to proclaim the good news. We're to be his witnesses. The delay of Christ's return is not an excuse for spiritual complacency. It's an invitation to gospel urgency. Every person you encounter this week is someone God loves. Every conversation is a potential opportunity. Every act of kindness, every invitation to church. Every testimony of God's grace, every presentation of the gospel may become the means God uses to draw someone to repentance and life in Christ. One day, Christ will return exactly as he promised. Until then, his patience should inspire our mission. Here's a reflection question for us: Who is God placed in your life that needs to hear about Jesus? Instead of simply waiting for Christ to come, ask him to help you bring someone with you when he does. So, how does this apply to my life? Wow, first it applies to my life by challenging me and encouraging me and then reminding me. I'm not supposed to just wait for Christ's return. I'm supposed to wait while sharing the gospel. Because I know Christ is going to return. My heart is that the Holy Spirit will help me to be very aware and very intentional moving forward. That God loves everybody, that He's not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and find and receive the life of Christ. I'm reminded that the great commission is to go into all the world to preach the gospel. And to make disciples who can turn around and make other disciples. I'm gonna take this verse to heart. I'm gonna remember that God is patient, but I have a mission. Come on, would you pray with me? Father God, thank you for speaking to me today through your word. Holy Spirit, help me to remember that God is patient, but I'm on mission. I'm on mission to share the gospel. To win the lost and to make disciples who can make disciples. Holy Spirit, awaken me from my complacency. Awaken me to the urgency of sharing the gospel with the lost, with my family members, with my neighbors, with other church people who might not necessarily be saved, with our neighborhoods, with our community. Father, I know that you're patient, but you're patient because you're merciful. You want people to come to a saving relationship with Jesus. Holy Spirit, help me to do this. Help me to be used by God to share the gospel with others. I ask these things in Jesus' name. And everybody said, Amen. Hey, Lakeshore family, as you go about your day, my prayer is that you'll develop a hunger for God and His Word like you've never had before. As you do, God will open the eyes of That you have deep in your heart to the riches of his word, giving you revelation and life-changing insight that will help you become everything God's called you to be, fulfilling your mission, purpose, and plan for our great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thanks for joining me today on the Daily Word Podcast. I hope this encourages you to stay faithful in the Word and sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading. God bless you and we'll catch you again tomorrow. Bye for now.