【双语灵修】等待最难熬WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART

彼得后书 3:3-13 8月30日

第一要紧的，该知道在末世必有好讥诮的人随从自己的私欲出来讥诮说： “主要降临的应许在哪里呢？因为从列祖睡了以来，万物与起初创造的时候仍是一样。” 他们故意忘记：从太古凭神的命有了天，并从水而出、藉水而成的地； 故此，当时的世界被水淹没就消灭了。 但现在的天地还是凭着那命存留，直留到不敬虔之人受审判遭沉沦的日子，用火焚烧。

亲爱的弟兄啊，有一件事你们不可忘记，就是主看一日如千年，千年如一日。 主所应许的尚未成就，有人以为他是耽延，其实不是耽延，乃是宽容你们，不愿有一人沉沦，乃愿人人都悔改。 但主的日子要像贼来到一样。那日，天必大有响声废去，有形质的都要被烈火销化，地和其上的物都要烧尽了。 这一切既然都要如此销化，你们为人该当怎样圣洁，怎样

敬虔， 切切仰望神的日子来到！在那日，天被火烧就销化了，有形质的都要被烈火熔化。 但我们照他的应许，盼望新天新地，有义居在其中。

等待最难熬

“亲爱的弟兄啊，有一件事你们不可忘记，就是主看一日如千年，千年如一日。” -彼后 3:8

有句歌词唱道：“等待最难熬”。为何等待如此煎熬？因为它会带来焦虑与无力感。

彼得写下这些话近两千年后的今天，我们仍在等候耶稣再来，更新万物的那日。

彼得的读者、当时流亡受苦的基督徒追问：“主啊，你何时再来匡正这世界？”彼得呼应耶稣关于审判的教导（马太福音24:39,43），给出主再来的洞见。主的“耽延”不是怠慢，而是宽容，换句话说，他的恩慈，就是愿万人悔改信他。

在等候主再来的日子里，我们无需焦虑不安或无助。彼得以永恒确据来鼓励我们过圣洁敬虔的生活，仰望耶稣更新万物的那日。

《圣经》中，彼得在最后的劝勉总结，等候主的意义是：“要在我们主――救主耶稣基督的恩典和知识上有长进。愿荣耀归给他，从今直到永远。阿们！”（彼得后书3:18）

祷告

主耶稣，我们的主和救主，求祢使我们渴慕在祢的恩典和真道上成长。愿荣耀永归于祢。阿们。

2 Peter 3:3-13

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30

WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART

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. —2 Peter 3:8

A line in a popular song says, “The waiting is the hardest part.” Why is waiting so hard? Waiting can bring anxiety and a feeling of helplessness.

Today, nearly 2,000 years after the apostle Peter wrote about this, we’re still waiting for Jesus’ return, when the Lord will make all things new.

Peter’s readers, Christian exiles suffering hardship, are asking, “How long, Lord, until you come again to make the world right?” And Peter, echoing Jesus’ teachings about his coming judgment (Matthew 24:39, 43), adds an insight about Jesus’ return. Instead of seeing the Lord’s delay as “slowness,” we should see his patience—or, in other words, his grace—for Jesus wants everyone to repent and believe in him.

In the meantime, while we continue to wait for our Lord’s return, we don’t need to live with anxiety or helplessness. Peter encourages us from a posture of eternal security to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to Jesus making all things right.

In the last words we hear from Peter in the Bible, he sums up what it means to wait for Jesus: “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).

Jesus, Lord and Savior, fill us with a deep longing to grow in your grace and in knowing you. To you be all glory now and forever. Amen.