Today’s scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-16
As I’ve heard many pastors say, when you see a “therefore” in the Bible,
you need ask yourself what it’s “there for.”
Yesterday’s passage spoke of prophets serving us and preaching the “gospel to
you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.” Today’s verses now put the focus on
us. If indeed the prophets spoke truth about the birth, death, and resurrection
of Jesus—and I believe with all my heart they did—then what are we to do to
continue to proclaim the gospel—the good news?
We have a pretty concise “to do” list here:
Prepare our minds for action
Keep sober in spirit
Fix our hope completely (Did you get that? Completely)
on grace
Do not be conformed to former lusts
And finally:
Be holy
Wow. I don’t know about you, but this list is pretty daunting. In fact the
“easiest” of these tasks (for me, at least) is fixing my hope on grace. I am so
very, very grateful that, 46 years ago, God adopted me as His beloved
daughter. I’m equally grateful that, 23 years ago, He brought
this prodigal back to Himself. I understand grace.
I can even handle being prepared for action, keeping sober in spirit, and not
being conformed to former lust—that’s where grace comes in.
But that last? Be holy? Me? With all my flaws and weaknesses and brokenness?
Are you kidding me?
I’m far from holy. You may be thinking the same about yourself.
Ah, but it’s not about us. It’s not about me. I’m holy because the One to whom
I belong is holy. When I gave my life completely and irrevocably to God, I was
washed clean. I was made righteous in His eyes.
And in gratitude, I strive to live as closely to how Christ lived as I can. I
desire my Lord’s will. I want to follow His plan.
And I, with His grace, am becoming more and more like my Savior.
Thank You, Abba, for seeing the worth in
me. Thank Your for looking past my rebellion, my deliberate sin. Thank You for
making me holy in your eyes. Amen.
Today’s scripture: 1 Timothy 4:9-11
Where have you “fixed [your] hope”? On your job? On your relationships? On your
portfolio?
How’s that going for you?
Eleven years ago, I wrote these words in my book, The Best Laid Plans. They seem very appropriate for today’s
devotional:
God
does promise us a future filled with hope. A synonym for hope is “expectation.”
God promised us a future full of expectation for His provision, for His comfort,
for His protection, and, yes, for His peace.
I often wonder how those who don’t know Jesus have hope. What is it they hope
for? Is it wealth? Is it possessions? Is it a relationship? And when money or
things or people let them down, then what do they hope for?
The only place we can put our hope is in our Lord God. It is only He who is
completely faithful and worthy of our trust. It is only He who walks alongside
us through good times and bad. It is only He who carries us when we can’t walk.
When we fix our hope on Him, we can be confident He’ll never let us down.
Never.
Today's scripture: Ephesians 2:11-13
Separate from Christ … strangers to the covenants of promise … having no hope …
without God in the world …
What tragic words. Words that described each of us before we met Jesus and
accepted the gift of salvation. And they describe millions of people throughout
our world today.
I can’t imagine living without Jesus in my life. I don’t know how I made it
through my twenty-year rebellion without him. Without the confidence that God
has a purpose for my life, a purpose for the pain, a purpose for the trials,
I’d be … well, I might just not be at all.
These days, my only real hope comes from my relationship with my Lord and
Savior. It hurts my heart to see people I love who don’t have that hope. I
wrote in my book, The Best Laid Hands:
Why
in the world would I, would you, want to look forward to another day on this
earth without hope that every new day would bring the peace that God promised?
God does promise us a future filled with hope. A synonym for hope is
“expectation.” God promised us a future full of expectation for His provision,
for His comfort, for His protection, and, yes, for His peace. I often wonder
how those who don’t know Jesus have hope. What is it they hope for? Is it
wealth? Is it possessions? Is it a relationship? And when money or things or
people let them down, then what do they hope for? I’m ever-grateful for
my Lord, who welcomed this prodigal back with open and loving arms. I’m
ever-grateful that I am no longer separated from Christ, that I’m no longer a
stranger to God’s covenant of promise, that I have hope, and that I am a
beloved daughter of the Father.
Where are you? Are you separated from Christ, without real hope? God the Father
is waiting patiently for you to open the door of your heart.
