Friday Coffee with PJ

Thanks for joining me for yet another edition of Friday Coffee with PJ. You know the routine. Enjoy a random thought or two with your morning coffee. 

1. One of the most fascinating passages of Scripture (and quite frankly, there are scores of them!) is the following: 

This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 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. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:1-13)

These verses should bring hope, comfort and confidence to every child of God. Jesus Christ is indeed going to return! No matter what man might say, God tells us in no uncertain terms that his son will one day return (at a time only known to himself - Matthew 24:36). Yet even though God has already set the date, Peter tells us something very interesting in v. 12. In addition to waiting for this day we are also to be "hastening the coming of the day of God." Here's what the note from the ESV Study Bible states about this word, "hastening": 

Hastening (Gk. speudō, “hurry [by extra effort]”) the coming of the day of God suggests that, by living holy lives, Christians can actually affect the time of the Lord’s return. 

The ESV Study Bible note goes on to say that this is true, even though God has already set the date. How is this possible? Frankly, I don't know. I guess my best answer to this would be the Apostle Paul's glorious words which he penned in his letter to the church in Rome when he wrote: 

 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:33)

So as you ponder this mystery of how God's sovereignty fits with human activity, don't miss the point God through Peter is making here. In some mysterious way, God takes our actions and weaves them into the tapestry of his plan for the universe. Some way, some how (and even though I can't explain it ... I do believe it!) you and I can hasten the coming of the Lord!  Wow! 

2. Some of you have been asking about my wife's recovery from her January 9th knee revision ... so here's a brief update. She continues to make steady (although slow) progress. For starters, her leg is straight (180 degrees)! This is great news for her leg hasn't been straight for well over a year ... and a straight leg is very important for walking. Additionally, for the past year she was stuck at a 70 degree bend (most people with a healthy knee can get a bend of 135-140 degrees). Considering that one needs a flexion (bend) of 85 degrees to climb stairs and 95 degrees to stand and sit comfortably, you can understand how life was a bit tougher for my wife. So all that said, here is the good news .... Sharon this week was measured at 105 degrees! Wow! She has not seen that kind of bend since September 3, 2015 (the day before her first knee replacement). Now a "gold standard bend" for a knee replacement is 120-125 degrees. Many people achieve that. We are thrilled that Sharon got over 100 degrees! She will most likely not reach the gold standard ... but we will happily settle for bronze or silver!!!  :) Please pray as she continues to work her knee for greater flexion and less pain. Thanks! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj