He is Patient

 "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

— 2 Peter 3:8-9

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

You are patient. These two verses are dense with theology and revelation of Your heart toward mankind. First, what seems like forever to us is but a short time to You. You are outside of linear time. You see past, present, and future all at once. Nothing is long. Nothing is short. All things are equally near and present to Your view. Psalm 90:4 states, “A thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by.” You see time with a perspective we lack; the delay of a thousand years is just a day in light of eternity. You see time with an intensity we lack; one day with You can contain the immensity of a thousand years.

You are not slow in keeping Your promise. Though from our perspective it often appears that You are dragging Your feet with unnecessary delay, the truth is that You will keep Your promise. What we perceive as delay is You executing patience for our benefit. Your delay permits time for human beings to repent and turn to You. You are offering as much time as possible for everyone to come to repentance. Your payment upon the cross is universal and for all. Your grace to receive forgiveness for our sins is offered to all. You have given mankind freewill to receive Your grace and choose Your salvation, but it is up to each individual to make that choice.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your saving grace that You extended to me. Thank You for Your seemingly infinite patience as You wait for humanity to come to repentance. There will be a day when time runs out, but I thank You for what seems to be a delay so that Your grace reaches more and more, rescuing them from perishing.

— In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

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