Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 280

October 7;    2 Peter 3:1;      230/260(IV);      ‘Stir Up Your Minds’

2 Peter 3:1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),

The Apostle Peter in his epistles is very diligent to stress the importance of the Word of God.  He encourages the believers to know the Word, so that they can live a victorious life and to know the Word to protect them from false ministers.  Peter exhorts the body of Christ to know what the Old Testament prophets said and also what Jesus’ apostles taught.  We know that the Word of God is the Lord speaking to us.  His Word is the ‘general’ information we need to know, given to us by a loving Father, that if obeyed will enable us to be successful and an overcomer in every aspect of our lives.  If we know the truth and Jesus told us that the Word of God is truth (John 17:17), the devil and minister imposters will not be able to lie and deceive us with what they teach.  Peter tells us in verse one that he ‘stirs up your pure minds by way of a reminder.’  This is similar to what Peter said in chapter 1 of his second epistle.  He told us that he would be faithful to remind Christians of what the Word says, even though they have heard the scriptures and know them.  What a joy it is to have read a verse or a few verses several times and have a general understanding of what the Word is teaching.  Then on your own or listening to a minister, you look at the same verse or verses and see something that you have never seen before.  Be a student of the Word all of your life.  The Lord will reward your diligence and as you study the Word, your love for the Word and the impact the Word will have on your life will bless you and many others.