2 Peter 1:19-21
We also have the completely reliable prophetic word. You do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts, since we know this above all else: No prophecy of Scripture comes about from someone’s own interpretation. In fact, no prophecy ever came by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were being carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us your word through the prophets and apostles; it is there that we learn about your will for us. How you created a perfect and holy world, but our first parents desired to be like you. Through that temptation in the Garden of Eden, they fell, sin came, and it ravaged your creation. You did not abandon or destroy them but gave them the promise to restore the human race. Your holy Scripture recorded this promise and has shone in sin’s darkness to shed light on that promise—your Son. You cast your light illuminating our sins; without you, there is no way for us to escape the punishment for our iniquities; our situation seems desperate with no way out. But like the dawning of a new day, you sent your Son, and he suffered our punishment, so our sins are forgiven. But, like the sun’s rising, our sins have been lifted from us, and in faith, we are restored to you so that we have your promise of eternal life and salvation, which comes to us through faith.
Lord, when we were crushed under the load of our sin, you gave us your Son, and he sent your Holy Spirit, who causes us to believe in Jesus. He has also given us your word that through the good news about Jesus, a seed of faith can be planted and sustained. So while men wrote your word, it was inspired by your Spirit, as Paul wrote, as the Holy Spirit carried them. So we thank you for giving us your word, for Jesus’ forgiveness, and for starting faith in us to believe in Jesus.
We pray for the intercession of all who do not believe in you, that you would plant your gospel seed in them as we share the good news about Jesus; so they, too, will trust in him and his forgiveness. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
Words written only by men contain contradictions and errors. However, God’s Word, even though it was written through men, was inspired by the Holy Spirit; it is reliable without error or contradiction. There we know and trust in God’s forgiveness through Jesus.