Daily EncouragementSample

“A light shining in a dark place” - what a lovely picture of “the word of the prophets” and of course, of all Scripture. The metaphor here, we are told, is “of light or torch, illuminating a murky room” (Michael Green). The familiar words of Psalm 119:105 come to mind - “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” We are out of the room and into the world, and the light of Scripture is sufficient to shine in the whole area dominated by the evil one (1 John 5:19).

“Pay attention to the shining light of Scripture” - here is sound encouragement for us as we walk through the darkness of this world. The light is bright, the word is certain. At what a high level Peter places it, giving it, in a sense, prominence over his own eyewitness account of the transfiguration. Then he traces its origin to men who “spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 2:20-21).

If the darkness of doubt assails us and in some unexpected hour we are tempted to think our faith may, after all, rest on “cleverly invented stories,” we must get our Bibles out. The truth and inspiration we find there will illuminate our paths “until the day dawns” and the Lord comes.