Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale Daily DevotionalSample

Salvation What is God's will for our lives? Over the next few days, we'll be looking at some specific declarations about His will from His Word. These are what we might call "givens." They tell us pointblank what the Lord wants in and for our lives. The first "given" centers on the subject of salvation. Notice what 2 Peter 3:9 says: "The Lord is...not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." In the context of this particular passage, Peter is speaking about God's judgment towards man's sin. As it was in the days of Noah, the human race is infected with a sinful condition that actually demands punishment...punishment that will come as the Lord pronounces His just judgment. Repentance, which literally means to turn in the other direction, is our only hope of escaping this judgment. We repent when we confess our sinfulness and look to Jesus, who sacrificially died on the cross on our behalf, as our Savior. By doing so, we change course, we turn toward God, and receive His gift of forgiveness and salvation. Those who repent will be saved and experience eternal life and joy with God. Those who don't will perish, which means they'll be eternally destroyed. Now, how does God's will factor into all of this? Look closely. It says He is "not willing that any should perish." In other words, it is God's will for everyone to escape judgment and to experience His salvation. He never looks at a person and says, "I just can't wait to judge them for their sin!" It's just the opposite. His heart actually breaks for the fact that people choose not to repent and receive His gift of eternal life. Without question or exception, God's will is for every man and woman to be saved. But the question is whether or not we want His salvation for ourselves. What is God's will for our lives? Over the next few days, we'll be looking at some specific declarations about His will from His Word. These are what we might call "givens." They tell us pointblank what the Lord wants in and for our lives. Think about it... What does this passage reveal to me about God? What does this passage reveal to me about myself? Based on this, what changes do I need to make? What is my prayer for today?