SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
Scripture: 2 Peter 3:1-9

We know that Layer One corresponds to the evangelist because we followed tel-i-os/being perfected in love from 1 John to Ephesians 4:11-13. We discovered that the assignment of the five-fold ministry was to bring the church into tel-i-os. Since there are five layers of God’s love, it means that each one of the five-fold ministry carries a specific layer for the church. 2 Peter 3:1-9 illustrates Layer Two of God’s love. Verses 8,9 state, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Layer Two of God’s love emerges in verse 9 as the concept of the Lord being longsuffering toward us. It comes from the Greek word mak-roth-oo-meh-o and means ‘to be of a long spirit’ or simply to ‘forbear.’ What ministry gift has great, great patience with the saints, giving them space and time to grow? The pastoral job is forbearance.