RPG Adults
GOD IS LONGSUFFERING
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25
1 Peter 3:19-22
Psalm 86:11-17
“I have remembered thy name,
O LORD, in the night,
and have kept thy law.”
GOD IS LONGSUFFERING
1 Peter 3:19 has presented a problem of interpretation for Bible scholars down through the centuries. Some have felt that Christ’s preaching to the unsaved telling them the plan of salvation had indeed been accomplished. Others believe that the Lord was preaching to the saved of earlier times. And some have felt the verses are actually teaching that the spirit of Christ was in Noah as he preached to the multitudes of his day. It is not possible here to examine all these various interpretations.
But there are a number of points that are both clear and important as we continue to consider the Christian view of suffering. First of all, we see God’s patience in dealing with disobedient mankind. While Noah built the ark, he preached concerning God’s righteousness and the need for man to repent (2 Pet 2:5). Although men mocked, God gave them opportunity for 120 years to hear the message of salvation (Gen 6:3). This example of the Lord’s patience is still with us today. His return has been set in the future to give people a chance to hear the Gospel message. God loves and patiently waits for the very people who mock and persecute those who preach this message (2 Pet 3:9).
Along with God’s longsuffering, we see Noah’s faithfulness in preaching. Through those long years of ridicule, Noah had little in the way of results from his work. In fact, when the long-predicted punishment came, only eight were saved. What a small number for such a long ministry! Surely, by human standards, Noah’s ministry would be considered a failure. Yet God considered him a great preacher of righteousness (Heb 11:7).
We must remember the Lord’s admonition that relatively few of the world’s millions will accept the narrow way of salvation (Matt 7:13-14). Yet, we must continue to bear witness to this one way which is Jesus Christ (John 14:6). The Lord will not judge our service on the human basis of visible results, but on the basis of obedience and faithfulness to Him.
THOUGHT: On what basis will the Lord judge my service?
PRAYER: Father, please be merciful to save my unsaved loved ones for Thou art “not willing that any should perish” (2 Pet 3:9).