In 1 Peter chapter 1, starting in verse 3, we read a beautiful promise. “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.”

Did you read all those amazing gifts and promises you have? In verse 3, God has given you a living hope because of your belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This is a gift already given; you already have that living hope. From that living hope, in verse 4, you are promised an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you. No matter what happens on earth, your inheritance is safe in heaven, protected by God. While your inheritance is safe, in verse 5, God promises to shield you through your faith in Jesus. This is another gift that you have already received, you are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

In verse 6, God tells you to stay anchored to the living hope. Remember all of these promises because as you walk through life on earth, you will suffer grief in all kinds of trials. You will have trouble and hurt and pain. God tells you to rejoice in the living hope of Jesus and stand firm in your faith. The trials that you endure have come to prove the genuineness of your faith. As your faith grows through trials, it is of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire. How can you remain in the living hope and grow your faith in times of trouble? Give praise, glory and honor to Jesus Christ.  If you find praising Jesus is hard, remember when you were first saved. When you first met Jesus. 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.

No matter what lies ahead, you have an inheritance that is protected by God Himself. When you go through trials, let your faith grow by praising Jesus. If you hurt so much that it is hard to praise Him, remember when you met Jesus and how you did not see Him then, yet you believed and you fell in love with Him. Allow the joy and living hope to wash over you because your faith in Jesus has saved your very soul.  

Let’s pray. Thank You Jesus that You have set our inheritance in heaven. Thank You that You protect us, and You tell us exactly what to do when we run into trouble in this life. We are to give You praise and honor and glory. Help our hearts and minds to be anchored in the living hope You have already given us. Help us to keep our eyes on Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.