PETER

Today’s Reading: 2 Peter 1-3

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Along with many Christian symbols, statues and art, Rome also displays many gods. Here is a statue of Neptune (and a disrespectful seagull!). We may contrast the myth of “the sea god” with the One whom Peter calls “Our God and Saviour Jesus Christ!” Peter writes these words, “We did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: 2 Peter 1:15-16

And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

Peter sets out his intentions in writing this letter in the very first verse. He writes to “those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ [Messiah].” He makes it totally clear that he believes Jesus Christ is fully God! He continues throughout all three chapters by referring to Jesus as “Lord” eleven times! This is the Name for God used hundreds of times in Peter’s Bible, our Old Testament.

In 2 Peter 1, the Apostle states his total confidence in “the prophetic Word.” We’ve just completed Ezekiel, and tomorrow we’ll begin in Daniel (prophetic words). I’m sure we would have Peter’s approval for our Bible reading discipline.

In 2 Peter 2, Peter is very strong in his warnings about false teachers who prey on Christians. He uses the example of the false prophets that we’ve encountered over and over in our Old Testament readings to alert us to these dangers to our never-dying souls.

In 2 Peter 3, this first-hand witness to the glory of God in the Lord Jesus (he was present at the transfiguration – Matthew 17:1-8) now states the fact that “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night” (3:10a). He writes of our “beloved brother Paul” whose writings the “untaught and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures” (3:16).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Saviour, I pray that as I read the Scriptures, the “precious faith” (first verse) of which Peter writes will grow in me as the last statement Peter writes encourages me. Grant the grace, the gift of daily discipline in studying Your Word, so that I will consistently “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (3:18). In His strong Name I pray. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

The Bible College from which I graduated, Eastern Pentecostal Bible College (now known as Masters College and Seminary), had a theme chorus which we students would often sing, including these words: “The Word of God! We’ll stand upon the Word of God! Though the foes of the Lord will scorn His Word, WE’LL STAND UPON THE WORD OF GOD!!!” My heart thrills as I sing it (under my breath because it’s still very early in the morning). In fact, after 6 a.m. I’ll go for a walk, find a place where I can raise my voice, and sing loudly!

Yours for paying close attention to the powerful words written by the Apostle Peter,

David

P.S. I often think of the words of Peter and Jesus as spoken by the actors in the Son of God movie. Peter asks Jesus, “What are we going to do?” Jesus responds with these words, “CHANGE THE WORLD!!!” It’s St. Patrick’s day! He was a simple yet powerful world changer for Jesus who used the shamrock to teach the Trinity.