Happy, Holy Days: Concluding Advent Well (2 Peter 3)

2 Peter 3

Advent is an impetus to stir up our hearts and minds afresh regarding the day of the Lord when Christ will return to ultimately deliver the righteous and destroy the wicked.

Matthew 24:36-44; John 5:24, 28-29

“Brothers and sisters, the coming of Christ is near. The ultimate epiphany is just around the corner. If we think otherwise, we tragically impoverish our souls. Most Christians think little of Christ’s return, or if they do think about the day they will see Christ, they associate it with the day of their death. This is a proper hope, but death is not a pleasant thing, and thus the expectation of seeing Christ is mixed with a certain fear of the dark veil. But it is not so with His Second Coming. It is all joy! And that singular joy is meant to be a boon to our souls.” — R. Kent Hughes

Another Christmas gone by does not indicate God’s indifference but His mercy.

Ezekiel 18:21-23; Isaiah 30:18; Isaiah 55:6-7

Faithful, expectant waiting should involve ongoing personal examination of purity and passion.

1 Peter 1:14-19; Philippians 2:12-13