Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-5 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. This inheritance is 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.
Devotion: Allow me to take you back for just a moment. We started this week off talking about the incarnation- how Jesus came to this earth and walked among us. How He faced the same struggles that we do. How, in its most basic form, we can know that God is with us in the storms because He sent His own Son into the storm for us. He understands.
This entire week, we have looked at the idea of how God is with us in our struggles. We are not alone. And sometimes, He brings us through the storms of life. But what about when he doesn’t? Is He still with us? How can we continue to find our hope and joy in Him?
Whether our healing from the struggles and trials of this life happen in this life or not, we can take heart. Because Jesus took our place on the cross, dying for our sins and conquering death, the promise of eternal life in heaven became ours forever. A place with no tears, no pain, no sorrow, and no suffering. Though we experience those things on this earth and may never be free of them in our lifetime, we have a living hope. We know that God will never leave us or forsake us. And we also know that He has promised us an eternity in heaven with Him when all will be made right as we stand in His everlasting light.
Reflect:
- Take some time to reflect on the magnitude of the promise of heaven in your life. How does that shift your perspective with whatever storm you are going through?
