Living hope. There are some words that just say something in their simplicity. They don’t need a detailed explanation; you just know the minute you hear them how important they are.
Living hope are two words that speak volumes. You find these words in the opening thoughts of Peter’s first letter.
“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, 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.” [1 Peter 1:3-5]
Our hope is alive because it is anchored in Jesus Christ who through the power of God was raised from the dead and is forever alive! Our living hope isn’t wishful thinking – the kind of wishful thinking that prompts some people to buy lottery tickets. Our living hope isn’t just for one person whose numbers are picked over the numbers of millions of others.
Our living hope is for everyone who accepts God’s great mercy. It is alive now in Christ Jesus. It will be translated into a sure inheritance when we see Jesus. It can never perish, spoil or fade away. It will never leave you bankrupt or worse off than before you obtained it.
When we surrendered our lives to Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, we were birthed into that living hope. We are alive in it. We flourish in it. We find God’s power operating in it for our good.
Living hope. How grand those two simple little words are.
(Beginning Saturday the 12th, devotions will once again be posted in the AM rather than the night before.)
