Friday, April 26, 2013

The Description of the Believer's Hope (1Peter 1:3-4)



SPIRITUAL DIARY

                                                                                                            Date:  11-28-03

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Description of the Believers hope

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  1Peter 1:3-4

            1.  Message of the verse:  “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— kept in heaven for you.”  (NIV)  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.”  (KJV)
            In the later part of verse three the hope of the believer is described as a living hope, and it says that this living hope was accomplished by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave.  According to 1:23, this living hope is grounded on the Word of God.  “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”  Because this is a living hope it has life in it, and this life will grow and when others see this living hope in us they will be drawn to the Savior.  Peter goes on in verse four to write about an incorruptible inheritance.  Our inheritance is given to us by none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, and we will share in His glory.  “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.  "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”  John 17:22-24 
            As said before this inheritance is incorruptible, which means that nothing can ruin it.  Verse four goes on to say that this living hope is undefiled, which means it cannot be ruined by anything or anyone because it is eternal, and it will never be able to disappoint us in any way.  This living hope will never fade away and it is reserved for us in heaven. 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As I read about this wonderful hope that I have through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I realize that I do not deserve it, nor could ever earn it.  I also realize that it is so precious, and so rich, and because of this I pray that the Lord will continue to bless me with opportunities to tell others about this and to also continue to disciple these ones that He has put in my care.  Oh how I praise the Lord for this!!  God has been so great to my family and me.

The Word of God has been a tremendous blessing to me as I read it this morning.

My Steps of Faith Today:  To continue to trust the Lord to show me what He has got hold of me for, and to be open to the leading of His Spirit to be able to do those good works that He has prepared for me to do in eternity past.

Memory verse for the week:  Philippians 3:12b

            12b.  …but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 

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