2 Peter 1:19, “And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, 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.“
Whatever you are going through, God has the answers. Big things, little things, God cares about it all. Psalm 119:105 states, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” As you read the Scriptures, God has a message that will give counsel, wisdom, and guidance. Ask God what He wants you to pay attention to as you seek Him by reading God’s Word and talking to Him and reflecting upon what He has taught you in the past.
Do you feel like you have blown it? Peter had occasions to feel that way because he had a time or two. Yet God used Peter mightily and powerfully in putting him as the leader of the twelve apostles. But Peter had to learn humility to be used for God’s purpose. John MacArthur labeled Peter as “the apostle with the foot-shaped mouth,” in his book Twelve Ordinary Men. How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness and What He Wants to Do with You.
When your parents were giving you instruction as a child, or a schoolteacher, when they wanted you to learn or understand what they were teaching you, they would say, “Pay attention! Listen to me!” Peter was one of the personal witnesses to Jesus’ transformation and heard the voice of God say, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him (Matthew 17:1-8).” This is what Peter is directing his readers to pay attention to and listen to the prophetic Word of God to learn and apply God’s wisdom and instruction. It is more than just a book of stories. Over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament give details of the Messiah’s birth, life, and death. Jesus Christ fulfilled each prophecy. As extraordinary as it was for Peter to witness Jesus’ resurrection, he says these prophecies, Scriptures, are an even greater witness of Jesus Christ than his own experience of being an eyewitness to seeing Jesus transfigured, “after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother . . . And he was transfigured before them.” Matt. 17:1-2. Peter focused on Jesus Christ, not merely on an event and voice He heard that he witnessed and experienced. These prophecies, he is saying, have trustworthiness because they all came true.
Picture yourself sitting down for coffee or a meal with Jesus as your guest. Just you and Him. What would He tell you He wanted you to pay attention to? Would it be vacuuming or dusting your house more (although that is important)? No, it would be more profound issues such as your heart and your relationship with Him. Jesus wants us to “pay attention” to His Words, giving us more discernment and knowledge in growing as an authentic Christian.
I write down on 3 X 5 note cards, prayer requests and answers to that prayer, date them, and keep them in a gift box on the mantel of our fireplace in our living room. This week I found a specific prayer request I had written down in a book I had grabbed from my shelf and saw a prayer request I had written on one of the pages, during the 2nd quarter of 2022. The whole memory flooded back into my mind. I had forgotten to write down how God abundantly supplied seven months later above and beyond what I had asked! I immediately grabbed a note card, wrote down the date of this needed prayer request, and then the date of God’s provision to that prayer request. It was a moment of God reminding me, “Pay attention! I will shine my light into your situation and remember, Jesus is the bright and Morning star – the light of salvation to all.”
Listen to Hymn Of Heaven – Phil Wickham Lyric Video