God Pause for Wednesday, February 22, 2017 from Luther Seminary with Scripture 2 Peter 1:16-21

God Pause for Wednesday, February 22, 2017 from Luther Seminary with Scripture 2 Peter 1:16-21

2 Peter 1:

16 For when we made known to you the power and the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, we did not rely on cunningly contrived myths. On the contrary, we saw his majesty with our own eyes. 17 For we were there when he received honor and glory from God the Father; and the voice came to him from the grandeur of the Sh’khinah, saying, “This is my son, whom I love; I am well pleased with him!” 18 We heard this voice come out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

19 Yes, we have the prophetic Word made very certain. You will do well to pay attention to it as to a light shining in a dark, murky place, until the Day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts. 20 First of all, understand this: no prophecy of Scripture is to be interpreted by an individual on his own; 21 for never has a prophecy come as a result of human willing — on the contrary, people moved by the Ruach HaKodesh spoke a message from God.

[Complete Jewish Bible]

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In grade school, a classmate asked how I could believe in God. He waved his hand in the air and said, "If he exists, why can't I see him?" It was an honest question that I wasn't equipped to answer at that age.
Unlike Peter, we don't have the luxury of saying that we saw Jesus with our own eyes or heard the voice of God come from a cloud. So how does the "morning star" (Jesus) rise in my heart, without a sighting? Faith can be hard to explain. Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to convince others that what we believe is not "cleverly devised myths," that we forget to tell the simple truth: "Jesus loves me, this I know; for the Bible tells me so." You can never argue someone into faith. Loving them is a better way to give them a sighting of Christ.
Lord, we know we can never give faith to another. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. But we ask that you work through us to show you to others, to the glory of your name. Amen.
Laurie Neill, '12
Discipleship Pastor, First Lutheran Church, Fargo, N.D.
2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."
18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.
19 So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
20 First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation,
21 because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.[New Revised Standard Version]
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