Scripture

Above all, you must realise that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke for God.

Observation

Peter defends his accounts of the powerful coming of Christ. He was an eye-witness to the glorious splendour that was revealed when God spoke to Jesus at the Transfiguration.

Because of this experience, Peter now has a greater confidence in the prophets for their words came not from human initiative but by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Application

This verse from Peter about the prophets of Scripture is very similar to Paul’s statement in 2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is inspired by God, and is useful to teach us about what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives.

Prophets in the Bible were anointed by the Holy Spirit in a particular way that makes all they wrote infallible.

There are many prophecies which told with great accuracy many of the details of Jesus’ coming. Often these are clothed in imagery and symbolism, but they speak accurately of Jesus coming into the world and dying to redeem all who will trust Him. They also speak of Jesus coming as a great king to rule over the entire earth.

The Old Testament prophets are not like many contemporary prophets who may make errors in their attempts to encourage and exhort. We must use spiritual discernment in receiving these prophecies. But with the Scriptural prophets we can have confidence that they speak truth.

The prophets genuinely spoke for God because they were moved by the Holy Spirit. This can be true of each of us, if we allow the Holy Spirit to move in our hearts.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, let my heart be filled with you, so that, like the prophets of old, I can speak for you. Amen.

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+3.8-18

Scripture

The Lord isn’t slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.

Observation

Peter urges us to remember that God’s time scale isn’t the same as ours. A day and a thousand years are the same to Him. He isn’t being slow to keep his promises but patient. He is holding off judgement until everyone who will be saved is saved.

Judgement will come swiftly. The universe will be burned up in fire, and a new heaven and earth, perfect in every way, will be formed.

Application

The Lord isn’t slow in keeping His promises. He does not delay unnecessarily. In fact, His timing is always perfect.

Peter here is talking specifically about the end of history and Jesus’ return. The principle applies to every promise of God.

We measure time in days. God measures in generations and centuries. We desire fast food and instant coffee, but He follows a better way with better outcomes.

God is perfect in all of His dealings with people. This is something that we should rejoice in, especially those who struggle with chronic sins.

When we are impatient with God’s promises we are in danger of falling into doubt and then unbelief. We can be tempted to deny that God will do what He has promised to do.

We must persevere in faith, believing that all of God’s promises come to pass in His way and at His time.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to be patient in waiting for your promises to unfold. Grant me faith to hang on to you even when you seem to act more slowly than I would prefer. Amen.

Scripture

But in keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

Observation

With the Lord, a thousand years is the same as a day. He is not slow to keep His promise. Rather He is patient, holding back the day of judgement until all who are willing come to repentance.

The Day of the Lord will come unexpectedly like a thief. The old earth and heavens will be destroyed and replaced by a new earth and heaven.

We ought to live as the people of light not in darkness, looking for eternity and being spotless and blameless.

Application

We live in the end times. Jesus could return at any time. We think it’s been a long time, but from God’s perspective we are only in the third day.

We think that God is slow to keep His promises. The problem is with our appetite for instant solutions and our inability to see the long term. We need to learn to look at time in the light of eternity.

Prayer

Thank you Lord that you are working in my life. Sometimes I can’t see this because I want quick fixes. Please help me to trust in your timing. Amen.

Scripture

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.

Observation

Peter did not preach about human myths and theories because he was an eyewitness to Christ’s glory. He saw God’s glory come down on Christ and announce, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

So Peter’s experience confirms the prophetic words of the Old Testament. No prophecy of Scripture can be a matter of our own interpretation because it comes to us through the Holy Spirit.

Application

The difference between the Bible and every other religious book is that it is not human theory, but an historical record of God’s dealings with people. Even the claims of Jesus to be the Messiah go back to historical prophecies confirmed by contemporary eyewitnesses.

The great claims of the faith rely on a chain of eyewitness accounts coming down over 2000 years. My testimony is a vital part of that chain, just as the apostle Peter’s was.

The story of God is shown today in lives being changed one day at a time by the gentle unstoppable pressure of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Thank you Jesus for saving me and revealing your glory to me. Now reveal your glory through me that others can see your saving power. Amen.