信仰的基礎
彼得後書一章12至21節
12你們雖然曉得這些事，並且在你們已有的真道上堅固，我卻要將這些事常常提醒你們。
13我以為應當趁我還在這帳棚的時候提醒你們，激發你們。
14因為知道我脫離這帳棚的時候快到了，正如我們主耶穌基督所指示我的。
15並且我要盡心竭力，使你們在我去世以後時常記念這些事。
16我們從前將我們主耶穌基督的大能，和他降臨的事告訴你們，並不是隨從乖巧捏造的虛言，乃是親眼見過他的威榮。
17他從父神得尊貴榮耀的時候，從極大榮光之中有聲音出來向他說：“這是我的愛子，我所喜悅的。”
18我們同他在聖山的時候，親自聽見這聲音從天上出來。
19我們並有先知更確的預言，如同燈照在暗處。你們在這預言上留意，直等到
天發亮，晨星在你們心裡出現的時候，才是好的。
20第一要緊的，該知道經上所有的預言沒有可隨私意解說的；
21因為豫言從來沒有出於人意的，乃是人被聖靈感動，說出神的話來。
信息分享
彼得在這裡，正是想推醒他的讀者，要他們回想他們已經知道並相信，卻可能忘懷的事。我們經常需要別人的提醒。為甚麼？因為我們很容易把一些耳熟能詳的真理視為平常，以致失去對我們生命的影響力。
彼得怎樣提醒他的讀者防備假教師呢？首先，他提醒他們緊記他曾耳聞目睹，又曾告訴他們的事實。對他來說，追隨基督的那三年光陰，是他永誌難忘的。他清楚記得基督如何耐心教導他們，並提醒他們不要忘記這些教導。
接著，彼得便提醒他們緊記聖經的可信性。這是他們的信仰基礎，是神藉著聖靈親自賜給他們的。
彼得想激勵信徒，不要在基督徒的生命成長中變得閒懶。信徒懂得這些真理，但需要不斷用真理來提醒自己，彼得還想留下一些白紙黑字的記錄，來不住提醒他們；不止這封書信，馬可福音或許也是其中一項寫作計劃。
這段經文的最後幾節，是告訴我們聖經是聖靈默示的重要經文。請慢慢再讀一遍（19至21節）。聖經若是這樣寶貴，我們當然要用心細讀了。再怎麼熟讀也不過份，當然，也沒有人可以忽略聖經。
現今的世界正陷於屬靈的黑暗中，聖經便是唯一的亮光，能夠引導我們直達神的面前。我們願意與其他人分享這真光嗎？
經文反思：
「你的話是我腳前的燈，是我路上的光。」（詩一一九105）
FOUNDATIONS FOR OUR FAITH
2 Peter 1: 12-21
12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.
13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,
14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.
15 Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.
16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Message
Peter wanted to give his readers a good nudge - to awaken their memories of the things they knew and believed but which they could easily forget. We often need that same nudge. Why? It is sad to say that well-known truths often become commonplace and tend to lose their impact on our lives.
How did Peter start to warn his readers against false teachers? First he reminded them of the truth he himself had seen, heard, and told about. He himself could never forget the three years he had spent in the earthly presence of Christ. He could remember Christ's patient teaching and how often He had reminded the disciples of the things He had told them.
Then Peter reminded them of the reliability of the Scriptures. These were the foundation of their faith. They had been given by God the Holy Spirit Himself.
Peter wanted to stir any of his readers who might have become slack in their Christian lives. They knew these truths but needed to be stimulated again by them. He also planned to leave behind a record of them as a continuing reminder. Not only this letter but possibly the Gospel of Mark was part of that plan.
The last few words of our reading form one of the greatest passages in the Bible regarding its inspiration. Read them (vv. 19-21) again slowly. If the Bible is such a wonderful Book, we had better pay attention to what it says. No one can ever outgrow or neglect the Scriptures.
While the world around us is in spiritual darkness, the Bible is the only light that can show us the pathway to God. Are we sharing that light with the world?
A VERSE FOR TODAY: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105)