For Reading and Meditation:      1 Peter 1:1-7Today we examine the fact that although the psalmist's feet are no longer slipping and sliding, he continues to struggle inwardly with his problem. Listen to what he says: "But when I considered how to understand this, it was too great an effort for me and too painful" (Psalm 73:16, Amplified Bible). It is clear that although he has stopped himself from falling, he is still in great anguish of heart and mind; he is still perplexed over the issue of why the ungodly are prospering while he, a child of God, has to face all kinds of difficulties. He cannot bear the thought of scandalising the family of God, and yet his confusion continues. Have you ever been in this position in your spiritual life - saved from slipping and sliding but still harassed by a giant-sized spiritual problem? You know enough to stop you falling, but not enough to start you climbing. It is a strange position to be in but one, I must confess, in which I have found myself on many occasions. Perhaps you are there right now - your feet have stopped slipping, but strong emotions continue to rage inside you. This is a very critical position to be in - critical because the temptation at this point is to quieten the raging emotions within by settling for answers that are less than the real ones. I know many Christians who have been in this position, and because their goal has been to alleviate the pain in their heart rather than find the real solutions to their problem, they have grasped at superficial answers that do nothing more than provide temporary relief. O Father, save me from settling for less than the best, even though it means struggling a little longer with some difficult and turbulent emotions. Help me be concerned with maturity, not just temporary relief. Amen.<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>Psalm 17:3</li><li>2 Peter 3:9</li><li>Job 13:1-16</li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What had the psalmist purposed?</li><li>What did Job declare?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"These have come so that your faith  may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour " (v. 7) 

The subject of hell generates enormous resistance in the human heart. This resistance is most often expressed in the question, "How could a God of love sustain an everlasting hell?"If Paul were answering the question he would probably say at the outset, "Who art thou that repliest against God?" or "Let God be true and every man a liar." Translation: the creature really has no right to question the Creator. If God sustains an everlasting hell, He has valid reasons for doing so. We have no right to question His love or His justice. Yet we are given sufficient information in the Bible to vindicate God in this matter.First of all, we know that God did not make hell for man, but for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).We also know that it is not God's desire that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). If any man goes to hell, it is a great sorrow to the heart of the Lord.It is man's sin that causes the problem. The holiness, righteousness and justice of God demand that sin be punished. The divine decree is, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4). This is not arbitrary on God's part. It is the only attitude that a Holy Being can take toward sin.God could have let the matter rest there. Man sinned, therefore he must die.But God's love intervened. In order that man might not perish eternally, He went to the ultimate extreme to provide a way of salvation. He sent His unique Son to die as a Substitute for sinful men, paying the penalty for them. It was wonderful grace on the Savior's part to bear man's sins in His body on the cross.Now God offers eternal life as a free gift to all who repent of their sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. He will not save men against their will. They must choose the way of life.Frankly there is nothing else that God could have done. He has already done more than could be expected. If men refuse His free offer of mercy, there is no alternative. Hell is the deliberate choice of those who refuse heaven.To charge God with blame for sustaining an everlasting hell is completely unjust. It overlooks the fact that He emptied heaven of its Best so that earth's worst might never know the agonies of the lake of fire.

With reverence, humor and skill, William MacDonald wove a daily devotional tapestry that challenges the reader to think deeply and Biblically, and apply God's Word to their lives.

Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time

"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:15)

We read elsewhere of " God our Saviour, who will have all men to be saved." The Gospel, promulgated for every creature, is the expression of this divine willingness that men should come to repentance. " Knowest thou not," says Paul to the hardened sinner, " that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" Thus we see that all the goodness so profusely exhibited in the providence of God to men generally, is an expression of God's will that they should turn away from their sins and seek his grace. Day by day, during many, many years, he supplies the table of the impenitent man with palatable and suitable food; clothes him and his with raiment; fills his granaries and his coffers; and does it all not simply that he may meet the temporal wants of this sinner, but that he may touch his heart and lead him to turn penitently to his God. The sun returns to the east day after day, not because a law of nature requires it, but because the God of nature is the God of grace, and would have all men come to repentance. Many there are who reckon confidently upon a future display of the mercy of God, who yet are utterly unobservant of the mercy now shown. They seek the mercy of God in the wrong place, that is to say at the judgment seat; while they spend their days in treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath. They utterly object to the doctrine of a hell, which they repudiate as involving the sacrifice of God's perfections. Well, if they like, there shall be no hell. God wishes not that there should be any. He is ready to cancel, with respect to them, every denunciation of future punishment contained in the Bible. He is ready to exceed, a thousand fold, all their conceptions of divine goodness. He will not only destroy, for them, the hell of unquenchable fire, but the inward hell whose materials are heaped up within their own heart, the hell of sin, which, if undestroyed, will nullify for them all the heavens of creation. He will purify them from all unhallowed affections and unlawful desires give them the tastes and aptitudes of heaven, the love of Christ, the hatred of sin; and will then give them to dwell in the place for which he has fitted them. God is not willing that any should perish; his unwillingness is written upon the face of universal things; but they who come not to repentance, cannot but perish. In the day of the flood, the door of the ark shall not be open; if you insist upon making God a liar, if you regard his prophesied wrath as a fiction, you can surely reproach no one but yourself when you find that he hath spoken truth. If you flatter yourself with the idea that God will accommodate himself to your impious unbelief, and falsify his own word to show that you were right in viewing him as a liar, you do but evince the amazing and persistent blindness of your nature.

A daily devotional written by a Baptist Missionary to India, Reverend George Bowen (1816-1888) over 150 years ago.

Bowen's Daily Meditations

"He is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." - 2 Peter 3:9. 

The Lord is not slow to fulfil His promises as some count slowness.For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth… so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  

Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is … And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! § The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. § The coming of the Lord is at hand … The Judge is standing at the door! § Surely I am coming quickly. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness? The end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. § Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.

 Then comes the end. 

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. The longsuffering of our Lord is salvation. For this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. § Whatever things were written before were writ- ten for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? § Rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.

 You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful. 

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering.” § The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love. § The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. § This is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully … But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God … Christ … suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps …; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. Be angry, and do not sin.

Evening Daily Light

 He who is slow to wrath has great understanding. 

Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. § You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, long- suffering and abundant in mercy and truth. § Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! … For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him.

 Yet a little while, He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 

9 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.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,<cr>1</cr> as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient<cr>2</cr> with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.<cr>3</cr>

2 Peter 3:9

 9 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.  

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 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.

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.

 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.  

Bible Verse of the Day

May 10, 2019

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

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