the bright Morning Star...

artwork by Tamara Peterson

Tamara Peterson accompanies her beautiful work of art with this Advent devotional …"When they saw the star... Matthew 2:10…Have you ever been somewhere where there are no lights beyond what God has put in the sky? For eight years we lived in Texas and for part of that time we lived out in the country and the Milky Way was above our house. I had never seen so many stars in all my life. I would spend hours sitting on our front porch in awe of what God had created. Millions and millions of lights all glowing from so far away creating an amazing scene in the night sky. Can you imagine the three wise men studying the skies awaiting THE STAR to appear in the night to guide them to the Savior? What JOY they must have felt when they finally spotted it! This one single object created HOPE. If God can create hope with a single star, imagine what He can do with you! Today ask how God can use you to light another's dark night.” Tamara’s beautiful artwork and devotional inspired me as I listened to Chris Tomlin’s rendition of Silent Night and my heart was drawn to a word study of 2 Peter 1:19...... .....Can you imagine the three wisemen studying the skies awaiting THE STAR to appear in the night to guide them to the Savior? What JOY they must have felt when they finally spotted it! This one single object created HOPE. If God can create hope with a single star, imagine what he can do with you!

Today ask how God can use you to light another's NASB: So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

Amplified: And we have the prophetic word [made] firmer still. You will do well to pay close attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dismal (squalid and dark) place, until the day breaks through [the gloom] and the Morning Star rises (comes into being) in your hearts.

ESV: And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts

NLT: Because of that, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. Pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a light shining in a dark place--until the day Christ appears and his brilliant light shines in your hearts.

Phillips: The word of prophecy was fulfilled in our hearing! You should give that word your closest attention, for it shines like a lamp amidst all the dirt and darkness of the world, until the day dawns, and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Wuest: And we have the prophetic word as a surer foundation, to which you are doing well to pay attention, as to a lamp which is shining in a squalid place, until day dawns and a morning star arises in your hearts.

Young's Literal: And we have more firm the prophetic word, to which we do well giving heed, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, till day may dawn, and a morning star may arise -- in your hearts.

Pastor Francis Frangipane writes about Christ, who Himself is the "bright Morning Star" (Revelation 22:16): “A day is coming before the rapture, before the second coming of Jesus Christ, when those who follow Christ will be positioned, like the morning star—in the right place at the right time—and they will herald Christ's return. They will come from every nation, people, tribe and tongue, yet they will be one, for Christ will have given them His glory (John 17:22).”

The word, dawns, comes from the Greek word diaugazo from diá which means through and augázo which means shine—literally “to shine through.” This word was used to describe daylight breaking through the darkness of night, picturing the first gleams of the sun piercing the darkness.

Pastor Marvin Vincent writes, "The verb diaugazo is compounded of dia which means through, and auge which means sunlight, thus carrying the picture of light breaking through the gloom. In other words, the truths in the Bible will continue to point to the source of all truth, Christ, until He returns in glory.”

The words, "morning star," come from the Greek word, phosphoros from phos which means light and phero which means to bring; in English the word phosphorus means a substance that glows in the dark—literally light bringing, light bearer or bringer or bringing morning light. The morning star was the name that Greeks assigned to the planet Venus which was the brightest object in the sky apart from the sun and moon and appeared sometimes as the evening star and sometimes as the morning star. In the desert, the morning star is so brilliant that it appears as though the sun were about to rise.

Theologian W. E. Vine writes that phosphoros is used of the morning star, as the light–bringer in 2 Peter 1:19, where it indicates the arising of the light of Christ as the personal fulfillment, in the hearts of believers, of the prophetic Scriptures concerning His coming to receive them to Himself. In the context, these images (day dawning and morning star arising) point to the parousia or the appearing of Jesus Christ. This was partially fulfilled at Messiah's first coming but will be fulfilled at His return, His light driving away the spiritual darkness of this present evil age. "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star." Here, in Revelation 22:16, Christ triumphantly proclaims that He is the true "Morning Star.”

The word, arises, comes from the Greek word, anatello from aná, which means up and téllo, which means, set out for a goal—literally, to cause to arise, spring up, or be up. It was used especially of things in natural creation, like the rising of the sun or moon.

The word, hearts, comes from the Greek word, kardia, is not used to refer literally to the physical heart, but describes the seat of the desires, feelings, affections, passions, and impulses. Kardia refers to the causative source of a person’s psychological life in its various aspects, and with special emphasis upon thoughts—‘heart, inner self, mind.' "Heart" refers to the volition (your will), the mind, and the desires.

Pastor John MacArthur comments on kardia noting that...”Throughout Scripture, as well as in many languages and cultures throughout the world, the heart is used metaphorically to represent the inner person, the seat of motives and attitudes, the center of personality. But in Scripture it represents much more than emotion, feelings. It also includes the thinking process and particularly the will. In Proverbs we are told, “As [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7, KJV). Jesus asked a group of scribes, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?” (Matthew 9:4)... The heart is the control center of mind and will as well as emotion. The problem that caused God to destroy the earth in the Flood was a heart problem. “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). God has always been concerned above all else with the inside of man, with the condition of his heart. The second coming of Christ will have not only an externally transforming impact on the universe, but also an internally transforming impact (in your hearts) on those believers who are alive when Jesus returns, forever removing any of their remaining doubts. The perfect revelation of the Scriptures will be replaced with the perfect and complete revelation of Jesus Christ at the second coming."

Pastor Theodore Hiebert writes: “The truth that Christ is coming again must first arise in their hearts, like the morning star, giving assurance of coming day. Assured of His anticipated return, they will be alert to detect the gleams of dawn breaking through the darkness. Those who disregard the light of prophecy will not understand the significance of these harbingers of coming day. Such a living hope must have a transforming impact upon our daily lives.”

What if today you don’t feel like singing songs of joy? What if painful or difficult circumstances have stolen your joy? Frustrations assail you; burdens or responsibilities weigh your heart down, so that the last thing you want to do is sing with joy. Ask God for the grace to praise him; ask him to open your spiritual eyes so that you stand in awe of Him.

Lord Jesus Christ, our Morning Star, we praise You for Who You are. Your glory is higher than the heavens. Your majesty fills the earth. We worship and adore you. Open our eyes to see Your unfailing love and goodness. Renew our trust in Your Word. With a word You brought into existence the stars in the heavens and held the seas in place. Nothing can thwart Your plans. Fill our hearts with songs of joy. You are worthy of our unending praise! You created the stars and turn darkness into dawn and day into night, I bow before You. Nothing can withstand your power! Thank you for your Word, which reminds me of Who You are and calls me back to devotion and truth. Keep me from evil, and guide me along the path of life. Thank you for the free gift of salvation, that we are justified on the basis of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Thank You that, right now, we are under the completely sufficient imputed righteousness of Christ. Because we have placed our trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ, we are redeemed by His precious blood. The threat of failure, judgment, and condemnation has been removed. Knowing that God’s love for us and approval of us will never be determined by our performance is the most encouraging promise to which we cling. Oh what a Savior! Jesus, we love You, it is in Your name we pray, amen.

Look Up—meditate on 2 Peter 1:19

Look In—as you meditate on 2 Peter 1:19 pray to see how you might apply it to your life.

Look Out—as you meditate on 2 Peter 1:19 pray to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others.

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