expectant reflection

Periodically, during the Advent season, we'll be looking at devotions written by Hispanic pastors in our denomination. Today's devotion was written by Richard Caballero. Richard Caballero is pastor of the Spanish-speaking congregation at Emmanuel Reformed Church in Paramount, California.

2 Peter 3:8-13
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.
 
Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
 
Advent is my favorite time of the year. I love to sing Christmas carols and decorate the house with ornaments. I get excited to see the preparations in the church weeks before—the pageants, the choirs, and the groups of excited children rehearsing to recreate what took place on that beautiful night in the small village of Bethlehem. All the enthusiasm and preparation of Advent gives the impression that we are longing for Christmas to arrive. Christmas Day is the fulfillment of the most glorious and marvelous act in history: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16). And that act should awaken in our hearts feelings of longing and expectation for the one who has already come and who has promised to return.
 
Advent is not only a time of preparation for celebrating Christmas, but is also a time of expectant reflection for the second glorious coming of our great King. As Christians, we should long for that day to come. But in today’s passage of Scripture, Peter reminds us that the Lord does not delay his promise because he’s slow. Instead, there is a very powerful reason: God is patient, waiting until the last of his chosen people acknowledge him as their Lord and Savior.
 
In this time of Advent, we remember that Christ came and that Christ is coming. While we prepare to celebrate the origins of our redemption, we take advantage of each opportunity to announce with passion the good news of the gospel. Amen!
 
Prayer: Lord, help me to live like a true chosen one and give me the opportunity to share your gospel with someone today. In Jesus’s name, amen.