Holding on to a Living Hope (1 Peter 1:3-6)

Evening Scripture

"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. This inheritance is 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. 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 1:3-6

Evening Reflection

When I was sixteen, I decided it would be fun to start and plant a garden. I’d watched my grandparents do it year after year, and it didn’t look that hard. Surely, I could do it, too, right? At first, I started off strong. It was fun planting the seeds and watering them. Morning and evening, I’d prune, water, and give them extra nutrients. And all was well. Until my family left for vacation, and I forgot to ask anyone to tend to the plants. When we arrived back, two weeks later, I was dismayed. The garden was a mess. Overgrown, with weeds abounding. My parents told me to let it go, but I was determined. My grandparents and I spent two weeks bringing the dead plants back to life. And that story is always what I think of when I read 1 Peter 1.

Though 1 Peter 1 talks about Jesus giving us new birth and life through His death and the shedding of His blood, it’s through mercy and grace that we receive this gift. And unlike my tending to the garden, He tends our gardens for us when we enter into a personal relationship with Him. Yes, we still have work to do. Yes, we must actively fight sin and the decay of the flesh. But we’re given a living hope through an imperishable inheritance. The image here is beautiful and a bit abstract to comprehend. The TPT version, which I try to use sparingly and only for supplemental information, describes it this way:

“We are reborn into a perfect inheritance that can never perish, never be defiled, and never diminish. It is promised and preserved forever in the heavenly realm for you! Through our faith, the mighty power of God constantly guards us until our full salvation is ready to be revealed in the last time. May the thought of this cause you to jump for joy, even though lately you’ve had to put up with the grief of many trials. But these only reveal the sterling core of your faith, which is far more valuable than gold that perishes, for even gold is refined by fire. Your authentic faith will result in even more praise, glory, and honor when Jesus the Anointed One is revealed. You love him passionately although you have not seen him, but through believing in him you are saturated with an ecstatic joy, indescribably sublime and immersed in glory. For you are reaping the harvest of your faith—the full salvation promised you—your souls’ victory” (1 Peter 4:9, TPT).

Today, no matter what you’re facing, it’s my hope and prayer that you remember to cling to this living hope. Through Jesus, the hope we possess isn’t wishful thinking or positive vibes; it’s real, raw, and fierce. It’s a hope that can never be taken from us, no matter how dark the night rises or how weary our souls grow. How can you cling to this living hope today? 1 Peter 1 reminds us we’ve been brought from death to life, so there’s nothing left to fear. Even in the face of death itself, with Christ, we receive eternal life and hope that can never be taken away from us. As you prepare for rest, ask yourself: Do I believe in and act like this living hope is real? If you don’t, ask the Lord for confidence to live in this way, even amidst the trials you may suffer here on earth.

Evening Prayer

Dear Jesus,
Holding onto a living hope when times are hard can be a challenge. In these moments, fix my eyes on Heaven and that which cannot ever be taken away from me. Help me live with eternal hope and love every day of my life. I love, praise, and thank you, Lord.
Amen.

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