Living Hope

 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."

— 1 Peter 1:3-5

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

To merely describe what God the Father has done for us isn't enough. We must praise Him! He has lavished so much mercy upon us, not giving us what we deserve, but instead giving us a new birth into a living hope through Your resurrection from the dead. We were lost in decrepit death into dying despair but through God's mercy He saved us into a new birth into a living hope! And what we now possess is an inheritance that will never wither like a flower or be snuffed out like a candle. It is an inheritance that is imperishable, unwaning, incorruptible, and unfading. 

This inheritance is kept in Heaven for me, safely out of sight behind the thin curtain that separates our world from God's world. One day (soon) that curtain will be drawn back and our inheritance will be visible, merged with our earthly reality, transforming it and soaking it with God's presence, love, and mercy.

We believe this by faith, not able to see it with our physical eyes, but perceiving it by our spirit, being certain of what we hope for and assured of what we presently cannot see. While we wait for this inheritance, we also are kept safe, shielded by God's power. Think of it! I am shielded by God's power. That is a statement of fact. It is only conditioned by my salvation in You, Christ Jesus. In You, I am shielded by God's power from the adversary, the world, and anything that would attempt to take me out before I receive God's inheritance for me. I am shielded by God's power until the day when my salvation in Jesus Christ is fully revealed by Your return to this earth in the last days.

Lord Jesus, thank You for the new birth into a living hope that I now possess through You. Thank You for the inheritance I now possess being kept safe for me. Thank You for shielding me by God's power until the day when You return for me.

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

No Retaliation

 "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." — 1 Peter 2:21-23 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, Thank you for leaving me an example of how to respond when I am verbally chastised, insulted, and torn down. You did not retaliate. No deceit was found in Your mouth. When You suffered, You made no threats. Instead You entrusted Yourself to the Father who judges Your accusers justly. Yesterday, a respected young man named Charlie Kirk, 31, who stood for righteousness and civil discourse was assassinated while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Charlie Kirk has consistently been one of the calmest and most polite among us. He listened to questions from his o...
Read more

Suffering

 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. — Romans 5:3-4 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, We glory in our sufferings. The word Paul uses here means to "glory in a thing", "to boast", "to rejoice." He's contrasting his previous thought that we boast or rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. We rejoice in our hope of God and  we rejoice in our sufferings. The picture forming in my mind is lifting hands, shouting with joy, as I rejoice in God and then doing the same thing in the midst of my suffering. Yeah. I don't do that. I don't rejoice when suffering comes. I do the opposite. I complain. I sulk. I moan. I am irritated. I am angry. I am resentful. But do I rejoice? No. Yet this is the very thing Paul says we are to do. And it's because of the incredible fruitfulness our suffering brings. Suffering produces perseverance....
Read more

Faithful Stewards

 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." — 1 Peter 4:8-11 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, This is the second time Peter instructs believers to love one another deeply, fervently. Our love for one another overlooks small offenses. Without our deep and fervent love, every little irritation becomes a grievance. It should not be that way in the body of Christ. Because this early church met in homes, hospitality was necessary. To be hospitable means welcoming people into your home, but ...
Read more