Come, Lord Jesus, ComeSample

Scoffers Will Come

Read: 2 Peter 3:1–13

SOAP: 2 Peter 3:3–4

Above all, understand this: In the last days blatant scoffers will come, being propelled by their own evil urges and saying, “Where is his promised return? For ever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.”

Into the Text

Don’t let them get to you. There were scoffers and doubters in Jesus’ day, so don’t be discouraged when people act that way today, too. It doesn’t matter what they think. What matters is what Jesus said and what Jesus promised.

We know from Scripture and from the fulfillment of His past promises that Jesus is the ultimate Promise Keeper and is totally trustworthy. Let others scoff and doubt, but pray for their salvation as they do. Ironically, the reason Jesus hasn’t returned for His church is because of His great love and compassion for sinners, even for those scoffers.

Jesus is not slow in keeping His promise. Instead, He is patient and loving because He wants everyone to repent and not perish (2 Peter 3:9). Don’t let the naysayers get to you. Instead, thank God for their negative comments because it reminds you to pray for them. Who knows, you might be the only person in their life praying for their salvation. If you think about it like that, you will realize what an amazing opportunity God has given you.

In the meantime, live your life as if Jesus is coming back today, with eager anticipation, realizing that “a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day” (2 Peter 3:8). God does not measure time the same way we do.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for the scoffers, doubters, and naysayers in my life. Help me to grow in love and compassion for them. Today, I lift them to You by name and pray for their salvation. Use me in their lives to help them see more of You. Help me balance my eagerness for Your return with endurance and compassion for those who have not yet accepted Your forgiveness of their sins. I pray all this in Your name as my heart cries out, "Come, Lord Jesus, come." Amen.