What practical steps can we take to live with Peter's sense of urgency? Setting the Scene: Peter’s Sense of Urgency “since I know that I will soon lay aside this tent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.” (2 Peter 1:14) Peter writes with a clock ticking in his ears. The Lord had told him his earthly life would shortly end (John 21:18-19), so every word drips with purposeful haste. That same urgency can animate our own walk. Recognize the Brevity of Life • Ask for a heart that counts its days. “Teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) • Keep James 4:14 before you: life is “a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Write it on a card, set it as a phone reminder—anything that gently jolts you out of complacency. • Visit hospital rooms, nursing homes, or cemeteries on occasion. Tangible encounters with mortality reset our priorities. Redeem the Time You Still Have • Plan your days, but hold them loosely—“making the most of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16) • Block off focused slots for Scripture intake and prayer first, not last. • Operate with a “sunset clause” mindset: “Night is coming, when no one can work.” (John 9:4) Maintain Constant Reminders of Truth Peter said, “I will always remind you of these things” (2 Peter 1:12-13). • Create a rotation of core passages to reread monthly (e.g., 2 Peter 1, John 15, Romans 8). • Use visible cues—sticky notes on the mirror, home screens, car dashboards—to keep Scripture before your eyes. • Talk about the Word over meals and drives; repetition cements urgency. Invest in People While You Can • Identify three believers to disciple or encourage; schedule regular touchpoints. (2 Timothy 2:2) • Pursue unreached friends with the gospel; remember Paul’s plea: “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16) • Write letters, record videos, or leave journals for future generations, as Peter left epistles. Guard and Pass On Sound Doctrine • Study diligently; false teaching creeps in when vigilance wanes (2 Peter 2:1). • Compare every new idea to the written Word; be a Berean (Acts 17:11). • Teach children and new believers the foundations—creation, fall, redemption, consummation—so they carry the torch forward. Live Openhandedly with Earthly Resources • View money, possessions, and time as tools on loan, not treasures to hoard (Matthew 6:19-21). • Set generous giving goals that stretch your faith. • Simplify where possible; every extra hour or dollar freed can serve kingdom purposes. Stay Ready for the Lord’s Return • Meditate on promises like 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; expectancy fuels holiness (1 John 3:3). • Conduct end-of-day reviews: “If Christ returned tonight, would I be found faithful?” • Keep communion with Christ fresh; intimacy guards against drifting (Revelation 2:4-5). Finish Well Paul’s testimony—“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7)—mirrors Peter’s aim. Adopt a legacy mindset: • Draft a life purpose statement anchored in Scripture. • Revisit it quarterly; adjust activities that don’t align. • Pray that your departure, like Peter’s, will leave others stronger, clearer, more resolved to follow Christ. Take these steps and Peter’s urgency will no longer feel distant or dramatic—it will become the steady pulse of daily discipleship. |
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