1 Peter 1:6-9
“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 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. 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 1:6-9 NIV
These astounding truths should cause the heart of every Christian to transcend the relentless tragedies of life on this sin cursed earth. We should soar above the fray of earthly battles into the heavens of spiritual peace and rest in our salvation, which Peter says is “ready to be revealed in the last time.” This precious text describes the exact opposite of what most people experience in their life, even though we do not suffer like those that he’s writing to in the first century, and even though we have many wonderful benefits, especially here in the United States. Still, most people do not experience the type of joy that we just heard. For most people, life is a never ending pursuit of fleeting pleasures, miniscule pleasures that can never be sustained. Apart from Christ there can be no lasting joy. For the unsaved, happiness is directly linked to circumstances. If things are going well, they’re happy. If things are not going well, they’re sad. Like those in addiction craving their next fix, most people crave something that will fill that void within them. People today are walking around with iPods, listening to their music. They’re pursuing food, alcohol, entertainment, drugs. They worship at temples called malls or Amazon. They worship the god of materialism, a never ending pursuit to find some kind of happiness. It’s like a vapor, they reach up to grab it, but it’s not there. Peter rejoices to tell us that we are born to glory, saved to glory, and kept for glory. But he also reminds us that we are being prepared for glory by the things that we suffer in this temporal and passing life. We too should rejoice that as the elect of God, we are set apart for God and are being sanctified by the Spirit of God. And we should live in obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ so that His grace and peace may be multiplied to all who are called by His name. It is only by God's abundant mercy that we have come to this living hope in Christ and, by God's grace, have been endowed with an inheritance that is incorruptible and will never fade away. The paradox of our faith is that we can rejoice in the midst of our suffering and distresses. The mystery of our call to glory is that we can rejoice greatly despite our trials and losses, because we have an unfailing hope in our eternal inheritance and the glorious redemption of our bodies, through Jesus Christ our Lord!!!
Father thank You this day and that we have been given a new birth and a living hope through the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord let Your abundant blessings fall from the windows of heaven upon my friend and family today. Lord as we are being prepared for the coming glories of our heavenly home, help us to rejoice in our future hope despite the distresses of life’s various trials. Lord may we keep a heavenly perspective, knowing that You have promised to keep us by Your mighty power. Lord use my friend to be the salt and light of Your Word to all that will hear. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !!
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