LIVING HOPE
1Peter 1:3-5
“Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade—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.”
1Peter 1:3-5
“Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade—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.”
Hope is both a noun: anticipation, faith, expectation, and a verb: trusting, wishing, looking forward to. We learned that avoiding God can lead to discontent and a wasted life (See Avoiding God devotion). When our goals are unmet, we often become angry. Bitterness, discouragement, or despair often follows—clearly the absence of hope. We wonder what is this living hope?
We can remain optimistic in the face of unachieved expectations by remembering where our confidence originates: From Jesus. His outstretched arms welcome unhappy siblings, encircling them with love and trust. At salvation, each believer is born into a living hope. God remakes us into a new creation, freeing us from the bondage of the old sin nature (2Corinthians 5:17).
His Spirit lives within us. We’re co-heirs with Christ. Our new home—our true home—is in heaven with God. Nothing alters this family relationship with Him. This truth transmits confidence from being God’s child—sealed for eternity—and that IS living hope!
Also, Romans 15:4 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Noun). V.13 offers additional gifts: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” [Emphasis mine].
This awesome promise guarantees God’s kids that we’re part of a huge family of believers. Our brothers and sisters in Christ are linked by common love for Him and for each other—all expressed with joy and peace.
Believers should always remember whose we are—children of the Almighty—not reacting to disappointment and trials as the world does. We’re to live by faith, being certain for that we hope (verb). (Hebrews 11:1).
Whether you use hope as a noun or a verb, remember it springs from faith in Jesus.
Take Home Nugget
We can, most assuredly, rely on the Lord’s faithfulness. Trusting Him never disappoints because all of His promises are “Yes” in Christ (2Corinthians 1:20).
WISHING EVERY WOMAN A HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
J.D. Griffith
Our strength and hope is in the Lord—
Werest secure in His sure Word;
And though we’re tempted to despair
We know we’re kept within His care.
Werest secure in His sure Word;
And though we’re tempted to despair
We know we’re kept within His care.
D. De Haan
personal, private lesson experience with our staff
Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/
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