1 Pet 1:1-13
The hope that we have fuels our coming to Him, it fuels our conversion, it is a great motivation, maybe the most supreme motivation. It also fuels our ongoing transformation into His likeness. If you lose sight of this hope, your transformation will not be what God desires.
It is our anchor through the storms of life.
This living hope should be our most fervent longing.
Psalm 42:1-2. My soul pants for you O God, David says, as the deer pants for the water.
Phil. 3:17-21. Paul talks about our heavenly citizenship. He also says many walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Not a place we want to be. Their end is destruction, their god is their appetite – they are not focused on their living hope. They set their minds on earthly things. That’s not who we are, our citizenship is in heaven.
Are we putting too much emphasis on the NOW basket?
Phil. 1:21-24. Paul says to live is Christ, to die is gain. He fuels my behavior and dominates my thoughts, Paul says. His desire is to depart and be with Christ but knows it is necessary for him to remain on for the sake of those he is writing to.
Regardless of your situation now, today, can you say that same thing? For me, to live is Christ, to die is gain. Can you say that!?
James 5:14,15. If anyone is sick let him call for the elders of the church and they will pray over him.
Psalm 31:15 – my times are on your hand, David says in the midst of troubles.
Matt 5:10-12. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ….. rejoice and be glad for your reward in heaven is great.
Heaven-is it truly our living hope or do we regard it more as a consolation prize? Do we strongly desire it or do we just not want to go to hell? Do we cling tenaciously to the next world?
Do you feel that those who fall asleep in Jesus are better off than we are? What is next is so much better than what is now.
Gird your minds for action, be sober in spirit and fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus.
3/8/21
