December 19 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Matthew 17:1-8:

¹And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
²And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
³And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
⁴Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
⁵While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
⁶And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
⁷And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
⁸And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

Devotional

Peter with James and John had a very wonderful experience. They were eyewitnesses of the transfiguration of Christ. Peter testifies: "We were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount."

Peter was absolutely sure of what he had seen and heard in the mount. But now he does not say to his readers, unless you too have some such experience, you cannot be sure of the truths concerning Christ; but he says, "We have a more sure word of prophecy." In other words we have the Word of God, and that is more sure than visions. Therefore we must take heed to it as unto a light that shineth in a dark place. "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." This light we have in the Word of God. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. The entrance of thy word giveth light." "The path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." The perfect day has come when the Day Star has risen in our hearts, and Christ, the Lamb of God, the bright and Morning Star is the light of the heavenly Jerusalem, and all the elect are gathered before his throne.

Prayer

Our Father in heaven, Father of lights, with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning, Thou art always the same, dwelling in a light unto which no man can approach, whom no man has seen nor can see; to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen. We should humble ourselves before Thee. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil and canst not look on in­iquity. We pray, look down upon us in mercy; behold us, not as we are in ourselves, but as we are in Christ Jesus, clothed in his righteousness alone faultless to stand before His throne. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: 2 Pet. 1:16-18; 2 Cor. 4:6; Ps. 119:105, 130; Prov. 4:18; Rev. 21:23; 22:16.

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