- Friday: Grounded in the Word of God
- READ: 2 Peter 1:19-21
- SOAP: 2 Peter 1:20-21
Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination, for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
INTO THE TEXT
During Peter’s day, many false teachers were twisting God’s Word to fit their own agendas, resulting in many people being led astray. It’s no different in our day. Peter firmly speaks out against this and asserts the Bible’s authenticity and divine revelation. He states that God’s Word isn’t a product of human thoughts; it’s God-breathed, just like Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Peter defends the Bible by stating the writers did not give their own interpretation but wrote what God spoke through them by the power of the Holy Spirit. It wasn’t their imagination. It was God’s revelation. The Bible is God’s love letter written to His children to tell of his grand story of redemption through Jesus Christ.
Every verse, every parable, and every prophecy was penned under the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit. The authors? They were men, chosen by God, who didn’t write out of their own wisdom but acted as vessels for God’s divine revelations. Does this mean that they were mere puppets for the Holy Spirit? No. They still wrote in their own style with words that the people around them would understand, but the Holy Spirit guided them to write the truths of God. The Bible is not man’s words, but God’s direct words written to those He loves.
The Bible was written to the everyday, ordinary person, not just the theological elite. That’s why you don’t need a theology degree to understand God’s Word, but you do need the Holy Spirit. As you read the Bible, you need the Holy Spirit to illumine you and help you gain greater understanding and application for your life.
We should be thankful for gifted Bible teachers in our churches and seminaries, as they help us to gain greater understanding. Yet, we should not rely on them only, but study the Bible for ourselves as well, trusting in the Holy Spirit to make the meaning clear.
As we look forward to Jesus’ return, we need to ensure that we are reading God’s Word so that we won’t be deceived. When we are grounded in God’s Word and guided by the Holy Spirit, we won’t be easily swayed by misleading, false teachings. Instead, we’ll be able to stand strong, encouraged with God’s always and forever enduring promises.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of Your Word. Help me to cherish its truths, lean on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and stand firm against any distortions. May I always be anchored in Your eternal truths. Amen.