September 17, 2014
A MIRROR WITH TWO REFLECTIONS
2 Peter 1:12–21
Morgan Dishman
Central Truth
When we abide in Christ, our words and actions should be a reflection of His glory, not our own.
Key Verse | 2 Peter 1:21
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21)
2 Peter 1:12–21
12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, 1 1:13 Greek tent; also verse 14 to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
Christ's Glory and the Prophetic Word
16 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 were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, 2 1:17 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, 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, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Dive Deeper | 2 Peter 1:12–21
Oftentimes, we look in the mirror and see a clear reflection of simply ourselves, a person dirtied by sin and consumed with selfishness. Our motives are to portray our own glory for others to see, and we forget about the One who died so that His glory may be shown. In the NIV translation of this text, Peter describes how prophecy "never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:21, NIV). In so doing, Peter provides a clear example of how what we do shouldn't come from ourselves, but from God.
When we allow ourselves to be "carried along by the Holy Spirit," a transformation occurs in our hearts. Suddenly, we are consumed by His strength and love, so much so that the only thing that could possibly pour out of us is His strength and love. This power to transform our motives to reflect His glory is embodied in 2 Timothy 4:17, when Paul says, "But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed . . . ." This verse serves as a constant reminder to me that this message and story isn't mine because of me. Instead, it's a story from God that, through me, proclaims the Lord's glory, grace, love, and strength.
We look in the mirror daily, checking our hair or ensuring that we don't have poppy seeds stuck in our teeth from lunch. We see an image of ourselves. With Christ and when we are "carried along by the Holy Spirit," however, the image of our hearts can reflect a beautiful picture that reflects His glory.
Discussion Questions
1. In what areas of your life do you boast in yourself rather than Christ?
2. How are your actions different when you are focused on glorifying yourself rather than Christ?
3. Who in your life have you invited to check that you are "being carried along by the Holy Spirit?"