December 9 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

A prophet tells God's Word to people. Without prophets people don't know God or God's will. You cannot become a prophet by your own will—by growing a beard or by being stern or by shouting loudly. God appoints his own prophets.

God's greatest prophet in the Old Testament was Moses. God spoke directly through him. Through Moses Israel received its whole system of law and worship.

In his farewell address, Moses spoke of a prophet "like me" whom God would raise up. Moses warned that God would put his own words in that prophet's mouth. Therefore Israel had to obey that prophet unconditionally, for God himself would punish the disobedient.

Many years later two men quoted these words of Moses. They were speaking in the temple area to an audience that was eager to do what Moses had commanded. If you want to obey Moses, said Peter and John, you should listen to Jesus of Nazareth, for he is the prophet God promised through Moses.

These two men, Peter and John, were once on a mountain where they had the most wonderful experience. They saw Jesus transfigured by the radiance of heaven. God himself was on that mountain, and Peter and John were both lying on the ground, trying to hide in the dust. Then Moses and Elijah appeared, the two great spokesmen for God under the old covenant, and talked with Jesus.

Maybe Peter and John would have liked to hear something of the wisdom of Moses. Maybe they thought how great it would be to hear the voice of Elijah with their own ears. But then the voice of God said: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Matt. 17:5).

All people should stop paying attention to religious experts and false prophets. All people should do what God said on the mountain. "Listen to him!" We do not really know God unless we know him through the words and acts of Jesus.

REFLECTIONS

What does "listening to Jesus" look like in your life?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.