On the holy mountain, we heard
Dan Harper
February 19, 2026
Add to Favourites
Listen to this daily worship
2 Peter 1: 16-21 (NIV-UK)
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eye-witnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’[a] 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Did you know that, supposedly, the optimal time between special events is about 6 weeks? This is a rough rule of thumb that suggests too much planning can ruin the fun, and too many special events dilutes occasions to feeling ordinary. This of course is just a finger in the wind, but it maybe holds some truth.
In our reading today we hear of the disciples’ encounter with Jesus in the first person, and hear about prophetic words and the source of their wisdom. We hear of that transformative transfiguration time on the mountaintop and where the power of prophetic people comes from, and in both of these situations we can see that it is the Holy Spirit setting the scene.
As followers of Jesus, as people who might like to be described as Christians, it is easy to chase the divine life-changing encounter all day every day. It might be easy to think of good fortune or dumb luck as the will of God rather than just something that happens. But the reading today suggests that significant encounters with the divine, like those found on the mountaintops, happen in God’s time and not ours.
And that can be a challenge; in a world of instant gratification it is important that we slow down, and allow ourselves to stop and listen to God, seeking encounter in step with the divine and not assume we automatically get something for climbing the mountain.
Prayer:
Dear God,
Help us to live in ways that free us to hear you when you speak. Give us patience and perseverance when all seems quiet, and the permission to push forward when the Spirit speaks.
Amen.
Login to comment.