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 Lord Jesus,
Thank you for reminding us about your word. As Peter wrote, we should pay attention to it. Lord, without you, there is no forgiveness; without faith, there is no hope in this life. One might hope that tomorrow will be a better day than today, but what do we do with all the guilt and shame that remains in us for those things we have done wrong today and yesterday? Without you, all our sins remain in us.
Peter wrote about being in a dark place and how we would do well to pay attention—he used these words almost like watching the dawning of the day. You have brought us the light of salvation, which comes from the complete, free forgiveness of our sins through your death on the cross. Moreover, you are the lamp shining in the dark place.
All of the guilt and shame from our sins leave us in dark places, especially those things done to us by others. You remind us that you love us and have given your life for all our sins. We can let go of all the guilt and shame; we can forgive others even when those others are ourselves.
The cresting of your love is realizing where our guilt and shame come from. Then, knowing that you have removed all our guilt (specifically my guilt) and taken all our sins into yourself. You have forgiven everything we have said, done, and thought about others or ourselves; no sin is left, including the sins we will commit tomorrow.
You also sent us the Holy Spirit to create faith in us and set us apart for you—he has sanctified us. He has begun faith in all believers through the Word, so we receive your gift of forgiveness. We have forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life through faith in you and your work. We are full heirs to your kingdom of heaven, restored to the heavenly Father, all because of the faith the Holy Spirit began in us, which is faith in you.
No person could ever devise a plan of salvation of this magnitude from their imagination. Lord, we thank You for giving us (to me) the plan of salvation; it relies entirely upon You, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit. So we pray today for the courage to share this message of salvation with someone who does not know you so that the light of salvation will dawn and you, the Morning Star, will rise also in their life. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
When you read the Bible, realize this is God’s plan of salvation for the world and, more specifically, His plan for you. Christ died and rose, so you have forgiveness for every sin to have salvation and everlasting life, living with God as his child for eternity.