Daily Reading: 2 Peter 1
Scripture Focus: We ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. (2 Peter 1.18)
Devotional Thought: Have you ever had an experience of God that you will never forget? The Apostle Peter did. One day Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to go with him up the mountain to pray. They saw a vision from heaven - Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. They heard the voice of God himself saying, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him" (Mark 9.7). What a privilege! That experience never left Peter. Even here in 2nd Peter - his last preserved correspondence - Peter remembers it as if it had happened that very day.
I asked myself as I read this scripture - How long since I have heard "this very voice borne from heaven?" How long since I’ve spent time "with him on the holy mountain?"
Jesus had chosen just three of his disciples to go with him that day to the mountain. At that time, he was limited by geography and space. Now that he has ascended to heaven, he has no such limitations. He wants every one of us to ascend the holy mountain and hear the voice from heaven. The limit now is with each one of us. What am I willing to do? How far am I willing to go? What will I leave behind in order to have communion with him?
One morning I had a cancellation in my schedule which enabled me to attend a district meeting. Since they were not expecting me anyway, I decided not to go, opting instead to spend some extra time in my devotions. Lana told me, "I'm surprised you didn't go." I was somewhat surprised, too, but I knew that I needed to be with Jesus on the holy mountain.
How about you? Do you need to be with him on the holy mountain?
Prayer: Jesus, help us - in our self-imposed business and importance - to lay aside all hindrances and to go with you to the holy mountain. May we shut out all other voices that we may hear the voice from heaven. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: 6 God has spoken in his holiness: "With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth. 7 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter. 8 Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph." 9 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 10 Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies. 11 Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! 12 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes. (Psalms 60:6-12)
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