Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Have you ever thought how good God is to have given us the sense of taste? He could have made food tasteless and purely a fuel for the body with no experience whatsoever in its consumption, but He showed mercy and grace. I would argue the pinnacle of taste is perfectly encapsulated in eggnog (specifically Borden brand, however, Prairie Farms will suffice). If it is not any of the aforementioned brands of eggnog, it is - as discussed yesterday - an imposter. Do not be fooled by their holiday-themed boxes and fancy packaging. The nutmeg ratios of these imposter brands are so laughably out of balance that they should all be discontinued, and the factories they’re made in should be burned to the ground. I love eggnog. In fact, while our first child’s name is Lincoln, Eggnog was a close second. I am not kidding about loving eggnog.

As a child, we would get to drink one full glass on Christmas Eve and then again on Christmas Day. As soon as I could buy my own, I would drink it by the quart. Every year around October, the dairy section of stores is restored to its regal greatness once more with the return of eggnog. As I ceremoniously twist the top off, I am immediately whisked away by its noggy goodness with the first sip of the season. Every year, I look forward to its return. Every year, the first sip reminds me of the goodness I have missed for months on end.

At the beginning of 2 Peter 3:1-2, he talks about “stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder” and that we should “remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophet and the commandments of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.” We often need to stir up the goodness of God’s truth in our lives. The curse of our fallen nature is that what once thrilled us becomes ordinary. Reality hasn’t changed, rather it is us who has changed. When we read daily, our minds are stirred with reminders of what He has done for us. At the end of the chapter, Peter talks about the Day of the Lord and how it will come like a “thief in the night” and that we should live in “holy conduct and godliness” to help hasten the coming of the day of God. In short, we should go back and remind ourselves of God’s goodness, which spurs us to live more righteous lives, which spurs us to share what we believe with others through word and in action. Life gets busy and we drop the ball sometimes. When we stay in the Word, we are setting more consistent reminders so as not to forget. One day eggnog will flow year-round and I will never lose sight of its richness. But even better than that, one day there will be no more tears, and death will be no more. We will live perfectly in His presence.

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Take a few moments to reflect on how God has worked in your life and how those events have shaped your faith and those around you.
  
• Prayer: God, may we never forget what you have done for us. Let your Son’s sacrifice be a constant reminder of why we take joy in suffering, why we hold steadfast to Your Word, and the hope that is to come. We love You.

Family Devo: 2 Peter 3

By: Ty Park

When partnering with your family to know, love, and follow Jesus, we strive to create and share content filtered by the Head-Heart-Hands model.   

Head: the knowledge of God and His Word | Heart: the personal connection from scripture | Hands: a missional mindset  

Head  

In 2 Peter chapter 3, the apostle Peter addresses the believers, reminding them of God's promise of the return of Jesus. Peter reassures the readers that God's timing is not like human timing, and even though it may seem delayed, it is because of His patience and desire for all to come to know Him.  

Heart  

Peter encourages us to remember that God's perspective and timing are vastly different from our own. We can find comfort in the fact that God desires everyone to come to repentance, showing His immense love and patience towards us. In moments of uncertainty, we can hold onto the promise that Jesus will come again, fulfilling God's ultimate plan. 

Hands  

Knowing that Jesus will return should motivate us to live lives that reflect God's love and grace. While we wait for His return, let us be diligent in sharing the Good News of salvation with others, extending God's invitation to enter into His family. Just as God patiently waits for people to turn to Him, we too should demonstrate patience and kindness towards those who have yet to know Him. Let us show the world what it means to be part of God's family by treating others with love and compassion. 

Prayer: God, we know that You are the true living God! As we wait for Your return, I pray we will be ambassadors for You, Jesus. I pray we tell of all you have done in our lives so that others will come to know, love, and follow you. We love you, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.