2 Peter 1:16-21 (NRSV)
Read 2 Peter 1:16-21 on biblegateway.com
Verse 16For 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. Verse 17For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." Verse 18We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.
Verse 19So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Verse 20First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, Verse 21because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Devotion
In grade school, a classmate asked how I could believe in God. He waved his hand in the air and said, "If he exists, why can't I see him?" It was an honest question that I wasn't equipped to answer at that age.
Unlike Peter, we don't have the luxury of saying that we saw Jesus with our own eyes or heard the voice of God come from a cloud. So how does the "morning star" (Jesus) rise in my heart, without a sighting? Faith can be hard to explain. Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to convince others that what we believe is not "cleverly devised myths," that we forget to tell the simple truth: "Jesus loves me, this I know; for the Bible tells me so." You can never argue someone into faith. Loving them is a better way to give them a sighting of Christ.
Prayer
Lord, we know we can never give faith to another. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. But we ask that you work through us to show you to others, to the glory of your name. Amen.