Based off of a devotion plan on the YouVersion Bible app, The Promise of Easter by Our Daily Bread.
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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,
- 1 Peter 1:3 -
In His great mercy. There is nothing I could've ever done to deserve love from the Creator, the Almighty, the Lord on high; and yet, He had mercy. It's like a king, who has had his own treasure stolen by thieves, deciding to let them go free, unpunished. It's like a principal, who has had all the school rules broken by a delinquent, giving him a second chance. It's like a mother, who has seen her own son curse her and bring disgrace to the family, and yet, she embraces her son when he comes home with a remorseful heart. There is nothing they could've done to warrant forgiveness, and yet, forgiveness was granted. New beginnings, a living hope, just like salvation through Jesus Christ.
and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
- 1 Peter 1:4 -
What's more amazing is that this second chance, this gift, this wonderful act of undeserved mercy... it's forever. There is no end to it. There is no human, no leader, no power, no spiritual force who can separate us from God's love. It's kept in heaven, a place so safe, where nothing can destroy it. It's a treasure that was passed on to us as an inheritance, because we are declared children of the Father in heaven. He died, so that we could receive our inheritance.
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.
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while
you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
- 1 Peter 1:5-6 -
But it doesn't end there! Jesus is alive and well, enjoying Heaven! How exciting it is to anticipate the long-awaited coming of Christ. The only response is gratitude as we come to realise that God's power protects us from things trying to distract us from God's kingdom, as we look forward to the day Jesus comes again. It really puts all our earthly trials in perspective, as we faithfully keep our salvation dear to our hearts, working it all out for the glory of God.
These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith
—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—
may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
- 1 Peter 1:7 -
Wow! Pure, sincere, genuine faith is of greater worth than the most valuable of metals, because there is no material possession worthy to glorify our King. What strikes me the most is that God felt that our faith is much more precious to Him than anything we could ever deem treasure! It is so simple, but not exactly easy. In verse 7, it reminds us that the value of gold will still fade even though it has gone through the perils of fire. I can only imagine what kind of trials we have to face for our faith to be so strong that it is considered more worthy than gold itself. Nevertheless, I love how the testing of our faith results in wonderful things, and that staying faithful will not be in vain. Praise, glory, and honour for Jesus! That's the result of our faith! #whoooaaaa
Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now,
you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
- 1 Peter 1:8-9 -
Ah, I just love how the mere belief in Him can produce an inexpressible joy. That's the kind of joy I want to experience, and that's the kind of joy I find myself being in awe at each and every day. And the result of our faith? Salvation. How could you not celebrate and party and dance, knowing that you've just been pardoned of every single thing you've done wrong? How could you not jump with ecstasy, discovering that just by BELIEVING, your guilt has been washed squeaky clean? How could you not sing your lungs out when you experience that inexpressible feeling of being loved by God?
I am humbled by his never-ending grace. This just spurs me on to live for Christ, live like Christ, and live in Christ!
