1 Peter 1:3-9 (NRSV)
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Verse 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, Verse 4and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, Verse 5who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Verse 6In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, Verse 7so that the genuineness of your faith-being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Verse 8Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, Verse 9for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Devotion
There are degrees of hope. One who is waiting for a letter of acceptance waits with a more fervent hope than that of the average sports fan at the beginning of the season. There is active anticipation as opposed to a resigned sense of optimism. First Peter draws a bridge between Christ's resurrection and our daily walk of faith. We don't just have hope; we have hope infused with the resurrection, making it active and alive. First Peter acknowledges that we will suffer trials, burdens and frustrations. These will test the genuineness of our faith. But a living hope is animated by a grace-filled future. We are inheritors of a hope which is rooted in Jesus’ resurrection, giving us endurance to meet the challenges before us. Peter emboldens us with hope by describing a pristine inheritance awaiting us in heaven, where moths cannot consume nor thieves can break in and steal.
Prayer
God of heaven and earth, I need your help through the trials I face today. Bestow upon me, I humbly ask, the power of living hope, so that by your grace I will not just endure today's trials but also sing your praises. In the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.