Know The Truth
Today’s reading: 2 Peter 1:19-21
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. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
I can no longer read the words of Peter without picturing the Peter from The Chosen series. Even if you haven't seen it, you've probably read enough of Peter from the Gospels to know that he is rough around the edges, always ready to give someone a piece of his mind, and he's constantly looking for something or someone to defend. God made Peter strong-willed and fierce. Jesus came alongside him and helped to mold those qualities into something that would be useful for building up the first church. Aren't you glad God created us all differently and with necessary skills to build up the Body of Christ.
In today's verses, we get to hear from bossy Peter, but he is bossy because he knows his message is necessary. In a nutshell, this is what I hear Peter saying to his readers, to me,
"When the world around you gets dark, you must wake up and pay attention to the Truth of the Scripture. The Truth will shine even brighter as the world grows even darker."
In his commentary, "Be Alert," Warren Weirsbe explained that the word dark in this passage means "murky." He relates it to a "dank cellar or a dismal swamp." Does anyone else feel like Peter knew exactly what our world today feels like?
All around me, I can feel the darkness of the world. Sometimes it can feel so heavy and confusing that the darkness feels like it's inside of me. Thank you, Peter, for giving us the prescription for such a time is this,
"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 start rises in your hearts." (2 Peter 1:19)
As we close today, I would just like to give you some LIGHT that shines brightly in the darkness. Be alert. Pay attention to it. Share it with others.
"The LORD is my light and my salvation -- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life -- of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1
"Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
"Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light." Micah 7:8
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of lights.'" John 8:12
Be alert, sisters. Your enemy wants you to be confused by the darkness. But, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, those that have gone before us and left us His Word to follow, and they tell us the light will always shine brighter than the darkness.
Lord, we want to know the truth. We want to follow your truth as the light of our lives. All of us have spaces in our life that look dark right now. Today, light up the darkness. Draw our hearts and minds to Your light shining in the darkness and allow it to give us hope. Amen.
