photo and graphic: Martha G. Brady
..born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading Share on XBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
According to his great mercy,
he has caused us to be born again to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable,
undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you,
who by God’s power are being guarded through faith
for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while,
if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
so that the tested genuineness of your faith—
more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—
may be found to result in praise and glory and honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Though you have not seen him, you love him.
Though you do not now see him, you believe in him
and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
obtaining the outcome of your faith,
the salvation of your souls.
I Peter 1:3-9
I’ve been reading I Peter lately and will be using it for my Sunday meditations for awhile. I started further down in the first chapter a few weeks ago, so I’ll start at the beginning now. I won’t hit every verse. Just the main passages.
How is this for a hopeful message?
Key words and ideas like
- great mercy
- living hope
- an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled & unfading
- guarded by GOD’s power
- a faith that is being tested for its genuineness (because it is more valuable than gold)
These are all held together with the guarantee of GOD’s forgiveness of us through Christ’s death and resurrection to a living hope.
What amazing resources we have available to us as we live out our faith. And what a wonderful promise is made regarding the temporariness of our suffering as we go through various trials.
What a hopeful passage as we are reminded of GOD’s wonderful grace shown to us on so many levels and this imperishable inheritance He has given us.
GOD is truly good to us isn’t He?
