A Man Of Understanding

Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him . . . [but] some of his comments are hard to understand.

2 Peter 3:15-16

HAVE YOU EVER READ something in the Bible that you didn’t understand? Maybe it was a passage in the Old Testament about war, or something apocalyptic from the book of Revelation. Whatever the case, you’re in good company. In 2 Peter 3:15-16, the apostle Peter acknowledges that many people don’t understand everything Paul has written in his letters.

The Bible has always been challenged by those who don’t understand it, but it seems that the critiques have increased dramatically in our country lately, chipping away at the faith of some. And some people turn away from their faith and deny the Lord because they come across a passage of Scripture that is difficult to understand or even contrary to what they had previously believed.

But think about it: Do you stop loving people just because you don’t fully understand them? You probably wouldn’t stay married for very long if that were the case. Peter advises us to take God’s patience as our cue and to trust that if He wants us to understand something in His Word, He will make it plain to us in His time.

Because God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), it is certain that we will die without knowing all the answers to our questions about Him. We will leave the earth without understanding everything God has said. But in the meantime, let’s pursue a deeper and a fuller love for our Savior and trust Him with the things we don’t quite understand.

BOTTOM LINE

Practice your Faith ABCs: Admit that God’s ways are greater than yours, Believe His Word, and Commit to loving Him despite what you don’t understand.

Moment of Strength: 2 Peter 3:14-18