Not of This WorldSample

Day 1: Called to a Living Hope

New birth changes everything. Ask any parent who has welcomed a newborn and how that single event has turned many of their lives upside down. In addition to the tremendous change in lifestyle, a new birth also brings great joy and hope to the entire household. This is not only true in the physical sense, but also for those of us who have been born again spiritually.

In the beginning of 1 Peter, the Apostle expresses his thanksgiving to God who “in his great mercy has given us new birth into a living hope” (verse 3). This is followed by a long run-on sentence which encapsulates the rich benefits of salvation in Christ. Peter writes primarily to persecuted Christians in the Asia Minor region, reminding them how their new birth can generate great joy in the midst of their suffering (verse 6), the purpose of their suffering (verse 7) and how they can look forward to the day Christ comes back again (verse 9).

As believers, we have been born again. This changes everything. We need to learn to live like we are born again. This new birth re-orientates who we are, the way we live and what we value. This includes how we respond when our faith is tested and refined in the trenches of life. To endure those challenging moments, we can cling on to that living hope that we have in Christ, because once we get through them, we know that we will receive a wonderful inheritance that can never spoil, perish or fade (verse 4).

Ultimately, our salvation is not just about the here and now but is rooted in the hope of Christ’s return. In this world, we will have troubles of many kinds, but we can take heart that Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33). We can wait joyfully, with eager expectation to our final glorious salvation when He returns again.

As we begin this twelve-day devotional, take time to ponder about your salvation in Christ. Are you living like you are born again? How do you understand your own salvation? Does the appreciation of your salvation provide a strong anchor for the joy in your life?

Prayer points:

• Pray for the Holy Spirit to remind you of all the benefits you’ve experienced from your salvation in Christ. As the Holy Spirit brings these to mind, give thanks to the Lord for His wonderful work in your life.
• Our faith will be tested and refined. Pray for the maturing of your faith as you go through challenging times. Pray that the Lord will enable you to fix your eyes on the living hope in those moments.

Listen

The Joy - The Belonging Co (feat. David Dennis)