Living in the Spirit Daily Devotional
Your guide to a daily walk with God.
Thursday, 5 November 2026
Topic: No Private Interpretation
Text: 2 Peter 1:16-21
We continue our series on defending the faith this morning, discussing the interpretation and use of Scripture.
The Christian faith stands on two revelations: Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. This was what Peter declared to Him: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Every attempt to prove or disprove our faith revolves around His divinity and His Messianic identity.
In his epistle, Peter declares that the apostles' testimony about our Lord Jesus Christ was not based on fables and myths, but on their eyewitness account of His majesty.
He then recounts his personal experience with James and John and the Lord Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, where they heard the voice: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”
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Peter then proceeds to confirm that their testimony also stands on two legs: firstly, they have proof as eyewitnesses who witnessed everything Jesus did firsthand; and secondly, there is the confirmation of the sure word of prophecy in the Scriptures.
Peter exhorts the people to take heed to these prophecies as a beacon of light in a dark world until they are illuminated.
He then adds that these prophecies never came by the will of any man, but that holy men wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Hence, none of Scripture should be subject to any private interpretation.
This is to say that if we are going to defend the faith and contend for the truth against both external forces and those planted within, we must not allow the revelation of Scripture to be twisted through interpretation.
Because the Holy Spirit communicated a message through the prophets, and every word from them was consistent with that message, we are therefore mandated to study diligently to understand their message and not interpret their words based on what we already chose to believe.
Beloved, Scripture is not subject to personal interpretation, and any personal revelations we claim to receive from God are subject to the authority of Scripture, not the other way around.
Our understanding of the identity of the Lord Jesus Christ, His role in our redemption and salvation, and His grace must be consistent with the accurate interpretation of the prophetic message of Scripture as revealed through the Law and the Prophets.
We must hold ourselves to that standard and ensure that everyone else submits to it, so that no message of Scripture is distorted for private agendas.
God bless you.
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