SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 03-18-2004
My
Worship Time Focus: Lessons from the
“transfiguration”
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference: 2Peter 1:16
Message of the verse: “We
were not following a cleverly written-up story when we told you about the power
and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ—we actually saw his majesty with our own
eyes. He received honour and glory from God the Father himself when that voice
said to him, out of the sublime glory of Heaven, ‘This is my beloved Son, in
whom I am well pleased.’ We actually heard that voice speaking from Heaven
while we were with him on the sacred mountain.” (PHILIPS)
There are many important lessons to be learned from the
transfiguration of Jesus Christ, and Peter is writing about this event in these
three verses. It is good to remember
that he is writing to his original readers to alert of those who were trying to
teach them false doctrine, and he is reminding them of the experience that he
saw, along with James and John, and that experience was true and not made
up. His letter to them is now apart of
the written word of God, and believers around the world can read about it
now.
The transfiguration is written about in three of the four
Gospels, and in John is it not recorded.
It takes place on a mountaintop and Jesus Christ is shown in His glory,
His glory is revealed to His disciples who are there, Peter, James, and
John. The word transfiguration in the
Greek is the word “metamorphoo,” and we get the word metamorphose from it. This word means a change from the inside, and
that is what happened to Christ upon that mountain, His glory was revealed from
the inside out, in other words, there were no outside lights shining upon Him
to make Him look as He did, but the Light shone from the inside out.
Dr. Wiersbe points out three lessons to be learned from
the transfiguration: 1. The
transfiguration confirms Peter’s testimony about Jesus Christ, for Peter heard
the voice from heaven, along with seeing the majesty with his own eyes.
(V-2). 2. The Father used this event to strengthen the
Son for the awful ordeal He would go through in paying for the sins of the
world. This also shows that suffering
leads to glory. 3. The third lesson has to do with the “kingdom
of God,” for in all three references in the Bible that is mentioned. Matthew 16: 28 “Verily I say unto you, There will
be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of
man coming in his kingdom.” As the
disciples looked at the cross, and were very confused as to why that all took
place at first, the Holy Spirit could remind them of this truth about the
transfiguration, that there would indeed be a kingdom coming.
The transfiguration affirms several important doctrines
of the Christian faith. First of all it
shows that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and being the Son of God shows His
deity. It also speaks of the work on the
cross. In Luke 9:30-31 we read: “And behold, two men were talking with Him;
and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His
departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” This says that Moses and Elijah spoke of
Christ’s departure, or decease, and that word is the word “exodus.” Christ would make a way for sinful men to
come out of the bondage of sin, just as Moses did for the children of Israel,
when he lead them out of the slavery of Egypt.
The transfiguration also shows the affirmation of the truth of the
Scriptures, for Moses represented the Law and Elijah represented the Prophets,
and both spoke about the Christ. And as
mentioned before the transformation also represented the “kingdom of God.”
Again the transformation shows that suffering comes first
and then glory, and this is a lesson that every believer must learn at some time
in his life, just as Peter, James, and John learned.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: As our world and our nation grow darker and
darker, it does not seem like it will be very long before great suffering will
begin for believers in the country that we live in. Jesus promised that in the world you will
have tribulation, but He also encouraged us by saying that we are to be of good
cheer, for He has overcome the world. I
do take courage in this truth.
The Word of God was very
challenge to my heart today, and yet it was refreshing at the same time.
My Steps of Faith Today:
As March 19th will be upon
us tomorrow, I want to trust in the Lord that His perfect will, will be done in
all of our lives that are connected with Andrew Leck. We many not get, what we would say is “good
news,” yet God is in control and will work things out for our good and His
glory. This has been a very long trial
for those of us who have not been through things like this before, yet God is
faithful, and has taught many of us who are willing to learn many wonderful
things while going through it, including the blessing of seeing nine people
come to know the Lord.
Memory verses for the week:
Proverbs 3:5-8
Trust in the Lord with all
your heart, and lean not on your own understanding,
In all your ways
acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path.
Do not be wise in your own
eyes, Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It will be health to your
flesh, And strength to your bones.
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