Friday, December 11, 2015
2 Peter 1:17-19 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
BEFORE THE DAWNING DAY
Very recently I spent some time visiting with a very nice 98 year old Christian woman. Still sharp as ever, she explained to me how her apartment faces south east and she loves to wake up early enough to sit in her cozy living room chair and watch the sunrise. Big deal?
The Apostle Peter wrote what was a big deal-- seeing Jesus' radiant glory on mountain and hearing God the Father's voice confirm Jesus is His Son. This was the second time the word of God the Father confirmed this truth about Jesus (the other was at His baptism). God the Father was well pleased in His Son because "in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). That's why we "do well to heed" and pay special attention to the light of Christ Jesus our Lord. Just as Jesus Himself said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12).
My dear 98 year old sister in Christ has both learned and shared some wisdom over the years about her life with her Lord. As she watches each day dawn she thanks Jesus for another day of grace, another day of sins forgiven, and another day closer to the dawn of His return!
Before the dawning day Let sin's dark deeds be gone,
The old man all be put away, The new man all put on.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 68:5; Charles Coffin, 1736)
