Saturday, February 26, 2011

Tucked Away

2 Peter 1:16-21 KJV
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

I think this verse might get tucked away and forgotten in the context in which it is found. It seems to me to be the central theme and the reason we have the passages about the sure word of prophecy and no private interpretation. Peter is motivating us to give heed to this message.

I see a definite appeal to the lost to take heed
The progression here is powerful for the lost; take heed to this message, knowing its truthfulness and veracity, until it takes root in you. We pretty much give people a shallow sales pitch of salvation today and if that doesn't do it to give them peace of soul then we give them the same pitch again or else give them the pitch of assurance. Preachers like Spurgeon didn't do it that same way. They urged sinners to hear the Word of God again and again until the light shone through into them.

There is also an application for the Christian who struggles spiritually
Peter had just spoken about diligent addition of virtues and urged the reader to "give diligence to make [their] calling and election sure." That surety comes through taking heed to this sure Word of prophecy. We must read, meditate and sit under the preaching of it until it comes to life in our hearts. This is no mere reformation religion. We are not in the business of rehabilitation. A new creature is what we seek. That can only happen through the working of the Spirit of God. Take heed to the message of the Bible. It is sure. It is pure and it is powerful. Come under its authority and stay there until the "day star arise in your hearts."

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