16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, 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, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:16-21

Have you ever missed something completely but you didn’t realize it? Oftentimes we don’t know that something is missing until it’s gone. Sometimes we don’t notice light when it’s there but we feel its absence when it’s gone, when darkness is all over. The scriptures say that the Word of God is like a light. Psalm 119:105 says “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  It illuminates, it casts out darkness, it guides, it directs, it gives life. And it can be missed. If we don’t pay attention and actively seek God’s truth we could miss it. It’s there and it’s available and it’s trustworthy and reliable. Yet our distractions, our over-filled lives, our busy schedules can cause us to not notice.

A few weeks ago I was walking down a quiet sidewalk pushing an umbrella stroller with my one year old daughter, Elizabeth, in it. Now of course I believe she’s adorable but I’ve also been told so. As a person came in to view and we got closer, almost crossing paths, baby Elizabeth started waving. The cutest thing. I looked up expecting to see a smile or a hello back from the stranger. Instead I saw their eyes riveted on the screen in hand as their legs moved them forward on the pavement. Past us, past my daughter waving emphatically with a big grin on her face. I couldn’t believe it. They had missed it. Because of a phone. What was so important that they couldn’t notice this ball of sunshine for a few seconds and share in her joy?

It made me think of how often I have missed a God-moment, an opportunity to pray, a chance to bless. How often I have missed a moment to read and hear and soak in God’s Word. What’s so important that I miss that? And so I want to notice the light. I want to see it dispelling the darkness. I want to follow it as it lights my path.

How about you? Maybe you do one or both of these exercises today: 1) take a walk and really pay attention to what’s around you (God’s nature and creatures and the crown of His creation – humans) 2) Open your Bible today and really pay attention to what it’s saying to you. Underline, circle, copy down passages. Try to observe it with new eyes. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you not miss the message Jesus has for you today.

By Ellen Rosenberger

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