Bible Reading for October 19 – II Peter 1:12-21

How do you get people to listen to you? Today’s musicians, long since disenchanted with melodies, have come to the conclusion that sexually explicit lyrics and videos are increasingly necessary to boost the popularity of their catchy rhythms. In what passes for journalism in the age of the internet, many writers and editors have come to the conclusion that the best way to attract “clicks” is to be shocking or provocative. Blending news with opinion, they select stories that are best suited to maximize the outrage and anger of their readers.

In contrast, Peter reminds us that our focus needs to be not on new ideas but old ones, on things which we already know but of which we only need to be reminded (v. 13). And that’s because some old ideas are just more important than the latest fads. Yes, on the internet you can find many different opinions on every side of every issue. But regardless of how novel or interesting their presentations might be, some people just know more about a subject than others do. As my brother is fond of pointing out, “Your google search doesn’t trump my law degree.”

So, whom can we trust to tell us the truth about God? Apostles like Peter, who were eyewitnesses to the life and earthly ministry of Jesus Christ (v. 16), who heard the Father testify on the Mount of Transfiguration that Jesus is His “beloved Son” (vv. 17-18). We can also trust prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah, men who “spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (v. 21).

So, it doesn’t matter how slick the TikTok video may be, or how shocking the headline or how outrageous the commentary. It doesn’t even matter how many of your friends like or make favorable comments on your Facebook posts. Where it comes to knowing about God, only the ideas that agree with the writings of the apostles and the prophets are worth trusting. It is only the Holy Scriptures that can serve as our infallible rule of faith and life.

So, a passage from a book written 2000 years ago may not be the most shocking or titillating thing you may watch or read today. But it will certainly be a firmer foundation on which to build the rest of your life.

II Peter 1:12-21 (ESV)

12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.
13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,
14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.
15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
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 were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,”
18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.
19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.
21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.