Saint Peter Teaches Us to

Continued 👇🏾 ✍🏾Saint Peter teaches us to wait for the second coming of Christ with godly devotion: “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat, and the earth and the works in it will be burned up. Since all these things are to be dissolved, what kind of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of the Lord? But we, according to His promise, are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:9–13) We are called to live in holy conduct and godliness, not merely in words or thoughts, but in action, fully preparing our hearts for the day of the Lord. ✍🏾The Holy Apostle Paul, writing to the Thessalonians, reminds us that imitating God often involves endurance and joy in trials: “You became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.” (1 Thess. 1:6–7) ✍🏾Paul emphasizes that the apostles, though humbled by affliction, were exalted because they imitated Christ and became examples for others. Because the Thessalonian Christians imitated Christ in suffering, the apostle Paul testified: “For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus who are in Judea. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews.” (1 Thessalonians 2:14) ✍🏾 Paul further teaches us how to live in this present age: “The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11–14) To imitate God or Christ means to make Him the perfect example in our lives. Christ Himself is the perfect example of all the Beatitudes. The saints who trusted in Him followed His example faithfully. The conclusion of the Beatitudes reminds us that our primary model is Christ Himself. ✍🏾 Learning from the Apostles Christ demonstrated humility so that we could learn by example. The holy apostles recognized this, made Him their guide in ministry and life, and remained faithful even unto martyrdom, receiving the crown of glory from Him. May our Lord help us, like the holy apostles and saints, to follow His example, to stand firm in our Orthodox faith, and to persevere in true Christianity, so that we may inherit the heavenly Kingdom prepared for those who love Him. May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every tongue that He has created, today and always. May the blessings of God's mother, the virgin, and the cross be upon us. Amen. © John's Repentance Reach out to us on our social media platforms and share it with your friends:https://linktr.ee/johnsrepentance