Word@Work 2Pet11 - 2 Peter 1:19
Published: Mon, 08/24/09
Word@Work from BeaconLight
PIVOTAL EVIDENCE
2 Peter 1:19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. (NIV)
Many trials in court are decided on a balance of probabilities: there is no single piece of evidence which alone can prove the case one way or the other. And many people think that is true about religion. They respect sacred writings, but flavour them with the interpretations of scholars, community traditions and pragmatic cultural adaptations. This has happened to Christianity too; and when it does, the gospel becomes diluted and the holiness of God is obscured.
But the truth of Christianity is not a balance of probabilities, but relies on one single piece of evidence, the integrity of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Although the prophetic writing of the Old Testament suffered from many different interpretations, Peter discovered that Jesus was the key to make sense of what seemed mysterious. The transfiguration of Jesus (cf Mark 9:2-13), appearing with Moses and Elijah brought it all together for Peter; and the Father's voice affirming Jesus left him in no doubt. Today, Jesus illuminates the entire Bible, and brings God's Word to life. He does not make the Old Testament less valuable: in fact, it is only through the lens of His perfect life and sacrificial death that we can see the true value of all the prophets taught.
So, as God said on the transfiguration mountain, we must pay attention to Jesus (cf Mark 9:7). Then we will have confidence to see where we are going, and hold a steady course - even when the darkness closes in around us. Peter knew that would soon happen to his readers, and urged them to hold tightly on to Jesus; because He is the pivotal key to living a life of faith which pleases God. Likewise today: do not get seduced by strange teaching which denies what Jesus said and did: even if your friends and colleagues think you should. Stay away from that, as you would from a deadly plague. Keep with Jesus, and let him lead you out of the darkness.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for all the evidence of the character and sacrifice of Jesus which I can read in the Bible. Help me to keep paying attention to what He says so that I can live in the light of His truth and steer a steady course through the darkness which sometimes threatens to engulf me. For His dear Name's sake. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Many trials in court are decided on a balance of probabilities: there is no single piece of evidence which alone can prove the case one way or the other. And many people think that is true about religion. They respect sacred writings, but flavour them with the interpretations of scholars, community traditions and pragmatic cultural adaptations. This has happened to Christianity too; and when it does, the gospel becomes diluted and the holiness of God is obscured.
But the truth of Christianity is not a balance of probabilities, but relies on one single piece of evidence, the integrity of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Although the prophetic writing of the Old Testament suffered from many different interpretations, Peter discovered that Jesus was the key to make sense of what seemed mysterious. The transfiguration of Jesus (cf Mark 9:2-13), appearing with Moses and Elijah brought it all together for Peter; and the Father's voice affirming Jesus left him in no doubt. Today, Jesus illuminates the entire Bible, and brings God's Word to life. He does not make the Old Testament less valuable: in fact, it is only through the lens of His perfect life and sacrificial death that we can see the true value of all the prophets taught.
So, as God said on the transfiguration mountain, we must pay attention to Jesus (cf Mark 9:7). Then we will have confidence to see where we are going, and hold a steady course - even when the darkness closes in around us. Peter knew that would soon happen to his readers, and urged them to hold tightly on to Jesus; because He is the pivotal key to living a life of faith which pleases God. Likewise today: do not get seduced by strange teaching which denies what Jesus said and did: even if your friends and colleagues think you should. Stay away from that, as you would from a deadly plague. Keep with Jesus, and let him lead you out of the darkness.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for all the evidence of the character and sacrifice of Jesus which I can read in the Bible. Help me to keep paying attention to what He says so that I can live in the light of His truth and steer a steady course through the darkness which sometimes threatens to engulf me. For His dear Name's sake. Amen.
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All the 'back copies' for the series in the Bible books of Mark, Ephesians, James and 1 Peter can be found on www.beaconlight.co.uk/email
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