Verse of the Day 4/22

 

1 Peter 1:3-4 Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

⁴ [Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

I read today's verses in a devotional this morning and thought that they are a perfect description of what we should be feeling and saying after celebrating Easter and Jesus' resurrection.  I love the way that The Message puts it (see below) "what a God we have, and how fortunate we are to have Him".  Is that  the attitude of your heart and mind.

 

I think of Peter writing this, perhaps himself looking back to that first Easter morning.  Peter, the one that had denied Jesus three times.  Peter, one who had seen the empty tomb and later would see the resurrected Jesus.  Peter the one that then stood before those who had crucified Jesus boldly preached the Gospel message.

 

Think about what it means for you to have an "inheritance" a place for you (John 14:1-3) in  body that is "beyond the reach of change or decay".

 

We may be facing difficult circumstances today but let the words of Peter ring true in your hearts today "you have everything to live for, including a future in heaven - and the future starts now."

 

Later in the passage Peter shares another reason for his joy.  He had seen Jesus the risen One and believed, he also praised God for Christ followers then and through the ages because  " You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy." 1 Peter 1:8  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

May you experience this "inexpressible joy".

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

1 Peter 1:3

The Message (MSG)

A New Life

^3-5 What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole.