Friday, December 9, 2016 — 2 Peter 3:11-18

“But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides.” (2 Peter 3:13, NET)

Today, I invite you to ponder this excerpt from a confession of faith used by members of the Baptist, Methodist, and Waldensian Churches in Italy, a beautiful reflection on how our hope informs our present:

“We believe in eternity, and because of this time for us is free.
We believe in holiness, and because of this we ask for pardon.
We believe in justice, and because of this we plead for mercy.
We believe in love, and because of this we worship Christ.
We believe in God, and because of this we respect every man and woman.

We know and have experienced that the world has been saved through the charity of the cross, and because of this we sense in our soul pure joy, indestructible, that no threatening menace can overshadow…

We believe in God, the Father, who is in heaven, and because of this we rejoice in the tiny things of earthly life; because of this we are deeply touched and celebrate the most insignificant and humble thing: the birth of a child who carries, within, the light of God.”

God of hope, you call us to trust in your promised future as we struggle amid the brokenness of our world. Open our eyes to the glimpses of your reign, and call us anew to faithful living before you and in relationship with your beloved children, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

– Pastor Andrew Chavanak, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Falls City