What Am I to Be? - Karen Pourbabaee
“What sort of person ought you to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God.” 2 Peter 3:11-12 NAB
God is calling us to be prepared and not too concerned about the timing of His coming. We are to keep our lamps lit, awaiting His return, while working on all the things He wants us to be when He arrives. When we conduct ourselves in holiness and devotion, we are doing our part in readying the Bride to meet her Bridegroom! We are hastening Jesus’ coming! Peter unveils what we are to “Be” in this letter.
I am to “Be holy and devoted.” (v.11)
I am to “Be eager to be found without spot or wrinkle.” (v.12)
I am to “Be at peace.” (v.12)
I am to “Be on guard not to be led in error of the unprincipled and to fall from [my] own stability.” (v.17)
I am to “Be growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (v.17)
Many other gospel writers have added to the “Be” checklist:
I am to “Be still and know that [He is] God.”(Ps. 46:10)
I am to “Be strong and courageous.” (Joshua 1:9)
I am to “Be merciful, just as [my] Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)
I am to “Be perfect, therefore, as [my] Heavenly
Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:8)
I am to “Be strong in the grace that is in Jesus Christ.” (2 Tim. 2:1)
I am to “Be kind to one another, compassionate,
forgiving one another.” (Ephesians 4:32)
I am to “Be earnest and repent.” (Rev. 3:19)
These are but a dozen ways to “Be” what we ought to be in the Lord. His Word is filled with many more. Search for them. Pray them into your life. Live them as you wait for and hasten the day of God. Amen.