Today’s reading:
My Selection:
He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. Matthew 17:5-8.
In the incident on the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter showed that human tendency to want to act impulsively before thinking. He proposed the building of three tents, one each for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. You have to love Peter for being so human, but this is not a good quality to imitate. He was corrected by the voice of God Himself, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (vs. 5).
Hearing, knowledge, faith, action
Jesus once told an inquiring crowd who asked what they should do in order to do the works of God, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent” (John 6:29). Hearing him comes before knowledge of him, knowledge of him leads to faith in him, and faith in him comes before action for him. Pray that today your works would grow out of true knowledge of and faith in Jesus Christ, God’s Son and not, like Peter, out of a mere need to relieve anxiety.
For more reflections on today’s reading, see the corresponding reading in my book Cover to Cover: Through the Bible in 365 days.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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