2 Peter 1: Men Spoke from God

Today’s reading is 2 Peter 1.

Peter explains why he so strongly wants to pass on the path to partake in the divine nature and participate in God’s glory and excellence. He witnessed it with his own eyes.

Calling to mind the Mount of Transfiguration (see Mark 9:2-8), Peter explains he witnessed the majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ. He heard the very voice of God the Father declaring Jesus to be His Son. The prophetic word was made more sure to Peter, James, and John. That is, Peter does not write simply because he has studied the ancient prophets and decided Jesus fulfilled them. He witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus and saw Him share in the glory of God. Peter knows Jesus is the way any of us will share in God’s glory.

Peter specifically calls to mind the parable of the lamp to which we alluded in yesterday’s post. In Mark 4:21-25, Jesus asked, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear” (ESV). Then, Jesus tells His hearers to pay attention to what they hear. Though Mark uses a different Greek word, the idea is the same as Peter’s. Pay attention. Listen. Heed. Follow.

God’s Word is a lamp shining in a dark place. When we listen and follow, the day will dawn in our own hearts. We will be full of light and life. For Scripture, according to Peter, is not primarily the product of men. Rather, the ultimate author of Scripture is God through the Holy Spirit. “Men,” Peter says, “spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21, ESV). They did not write from their own authority, their own thinking, their own feelings. At least, not by those alone. No doubt, the Holy Spirit used each man as an instrument. He used their experiences, their perspectives, their backgrounds to get what He, the Holy Spirit, wanted in the Scriptures.

Therefore, we would do well to read. We would do well to read again and again. We would do well to take seriously the accounts of those who witnessed. We would do well to take seriously the accounts of those who experienced. We would do well to take seriously the accounts of those moved by God’s Holy Spirit.

Whether we are new to the Bible, long-time readers, or returning after a hiatus, let us dig deep in the rich soil of God’s Word. Let our roots sink into the Scriptures like a plant in soft, tilled earth by streams of water. Let us give all diligence to mature by knowing the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit through the self-revelation of Scripture. Though we are not mature as we would like to be and though the going is often slow, remember slow growth is still growth.

Whether quickly or slowly, may we grow by the power God gives through His Word and grace. Though we falter, may we never cease. For in so doing, God will grant us entrance to His eternal kingdom.

Praise the Lord!

Next week’s reading is 2 Peter 2.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

What do you want to share with others from 2 Peter 1?

Mark 4: Pay Attention to What You Hear

Today’s reading is Mark 4.

If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.

What an odd thing to say. Doesn’t everyone have ears? Yes. And No. Jesus was not distinguishing between those who could audibly hear and those who were deaf. He was actually bringing back into mind that reference He made to Isaiah 6. Some people will see, but not perceive. They will hear, but not understand. “Don’t just hear,” Jesus says. “Understand!” Don’t just let the words audibly enter your ears. Don’t just read the words on the page. Recognize they mean things. Recognize they have consequences. Recognize they should impact us and change us.

Therefore, we need to pay attention to what we hear. Literally, Jesus commands us to “See what you hear.” Even in this command He uses forms of the words in His reference to Isaiah 6: “See,” “Hear.”

Be careful how you look, be careful how you hear. Take pains with. Take care with it. Pay attention to what you are doing. Don’t be careless and reckless. Don’t think because you’ve read through some passage and had some initial thoughts you’ve figured out or understood what the teaching is.

Observe as you read Scripture and as you listen to it being taught. How much care should you take? How much observing should you do? That depends on how much you want to get out of it. The measure you use in your observation, your meditation, your rumination will be the measure you receive in your understanding. In fact, when you take pains and take care to observe and pay attention to your looking and listening to God’s Word, He will multiply the effectiveness of the work you are putting into it. He will measure back to you according to the measure you supply and will add even more.

However, if you decide a cursory listen, a once over, a quick read, a reliance on first impressions is plenty, even what you have will be taken away. That is, even the understanding you have now will be destroyed as your misunderstandings mount up and attack foundations of understanding which once were laid within you.

Jesus is the light. We don’t put Him under a basket. Rather, we lift Him and His Word up for all to see and hear. But let us be certain to listen. To listen carefully. To listen with a view to application and transformation.

In fact, when I listen but without the care and attention to understand, I won’t find forgiveness. That sounds a lot like what Jesus said about the person who committed blasphemy of the Holy Spirit back in Mark 3:28-29, doesn’t it? When I refuse to listen to the truth revealed by God, when I refuse to listen carefully, that’s when I won’t be forgiven. That is when I’m blaspheming God’s Spirit.

Listen up! Pay attention! God will be with you if you do.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Mark 4.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Mark 4 prompt or improve your trust in God?

Psalm 119:97-112: A Lamp and Light

Today’s reading is Psalm 119 (vss. 97-112).

God’s world, God’s Way

The psalmist repeatedly drives home a question to me.

Do I really believe the world works the way God says it does?

Those who walk in God’s Law and keep His testimonies are blessed, as our psalm began, not because they are qualifying for a prize and meeting the checklist of conditional requirements for God to dole out blessings. They are blessed because God created this world and He knows how it best works. He knows where blessedness lies. His Law, testimonies, Word, precepts, rules, judgments, promises, way, statutes, faithfulness, declarations, commandments, decrees show the way the world works.

God’s Word lights the way of blessedness. God’s Word shows us where to plant our feet and take our next step for blessing. God’s Way, God’s Word works. Frankly, this is the place of faith in our lives. Saving faith is believing where God’s light shines is really the best place to take our next steps.

This helps us understand our biggest dilemma. You see, God’s Word and Way work God’s purposes and goals. If my purposes and goals are different from His, I’m going to struggle all the way along to think His Word and Way actually work. I’ll be like that guy we call the rich, young ruler going away sad because God’s Way and Word won’t work my goals and my purposes.

“But I want to go to heaven,” someone says. “My goal and purpose is obviously the same as God’s.” Is it? I’m increasingly convinced God’s goal and purpose is not to get us to some place new, but to make us into someone new. He isn’t trying to get us to a certain place, but make us into a certain kind of person. The path to a location is very different from the path to transformation. Let’s face it. Attending the Super Bowl is a very different path from playing in it. Even I could attend the Super Bowl. If I got to know the right people or even just decided I was more interested in attending a Super Bowl than I was in so many other things I spend my money on, I could attend a Super Bowl. To play in the Super Bowl would be a painful path of transformation. That latter kind of work is what God is striving to accomplish in me. God isn’t trying to get us into heaven. God is making us into the kind of people who will thrive in His presence. That’s two different things. One is location. The other is transformation.

Of course, my illustration breaks down because in reality, if I don’t become the kind of person who can thrive in God’s presence, I won’t be the kind of person who can actually dwell in heaven. Either way, God lights the way to be that kind of person with His Word. Every other way is darkness and death.

What step will I take next? Let’s make that step one anchored in God’s Word.

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 119 (vss. 97-112).

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 119:97-112 prompt or improve my trust in God?