Passage of the Day:
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, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 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. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 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. 8 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, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls, 1 Peter 1:3-9.
Reflection:
The words of Peter provide a New Testament perspective to the words of an Old Testament prophet. Hosea 4:1-6 details why Israelites lost their way spiritually. Whenever you lack knowledge and or a clear vision for the future, hope slowly erodes until it is gone. Meanwhile, Peter unveils the secret to maintain a living hope. This is the opposite message of modern-day Pollyanna preachers who proclaim that once you enter into a personal relationship with Jesus, everything will fall into place and be smooth. This is not reality as all Christians must experience hardships, testing this newfound faith. This ongoing process is like going through a spiritual furnace, burning off all the imperfections that exist in our lives. As Christian maturity is obtained, possessing a living hope becomes attainable.
Prayerful Action:
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created, James 1:16-18.
Clinging to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:
As a former athlete who was close to becoming a professional in 2 different sports, I know how many hours of dedication it takes to reach this elite level. Unfortunately, making the necessary sacrifices doesn’t guarantee success. This maturation process separates the best in the world from the wanna be professional athletes like me. Yet, from a spiritual perspective, every trial that you endure prepares you for the future, James 1:2-4. As you fight through these spiritual growing pains, a living hope is waiting for you. As one former disciple once proclaimed, the choice is yours, Revelation 3:20-21.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
While placing your hope in material things is fleeting, experiencing the living hope of Jesus is life changing. May the lyrics of today’s song lead you toward this living hope.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 