October 8
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time,” 1 Peter 1:3-5.
The first Epistle of Peter is addressed to the Jewish Christians who were dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. During the days of persecution in the early Christian Church, the early Christians often had to flee with their families and whatever property they could take along.
Those persecuted Christians were living during the fulfillment of the warning that Jesus gave to His early followers as well as all of His followers until the end of time. Jesus warned that the ungodly and the non-Christians would persecute them physically and spiritually. Jesus said, “They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me,” John 16:2-3. The ungodly will think that they are pleasing their false gods by killing the Christians. This is also happening in various places throughout the world today.
The apostle Peter offers encouragement, comfort, and a living hope to all persecuted Christians. Our comfort and hope rests upon the abundant mercy of God revealed in the sending of the Lord Jesus Christ to be the Savior of all people. God’s undeserved love was revealed in the life, suffering, and death of the Lord Jesus. We have been born again into the family of God by the mercy of God through the Holy Spirit, who called us to faith in the Gospel.
We have a living hope in a living Redeemer who rose from the dead on the first Easter morning. We have an inheritance reserved for us in heaven which is guaranteed to us by the Son of God and the Savior of the world, who ascended into heaven where He is preparing a place for us. Our heavenly inheritance will not perish or fade away. The glories of heaven which we will enjoy are eternal – never-ending! Eternally, we will dwell in that place of which the evangelist John wrote, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away,” Revelation 21:4. We also have God’s promise to keep us in the saving faith. “You are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time,” 1 Peter 1:5.
For all of these blessings given to us by the grace of God, we lift up our voices to sing and praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and our Father by faith in Christ Jesus.
“Spread, oh, spread, thou mighty Word;
Spread the kingdom of the Lord
Wheresoever His breath has given
Life to beings meant for heaven.
Tell of our Redeemer’s love,
Who forever doth remove
By His holy sacrifice
All the guilt that on us lies.
Lord of Harvest, let there be
Joy and strength to work for Thee,
Till the nations far and near
See Thy light, and learn Thy fear.” Amen.