Our Living Hope
Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 1:3-9
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.
Mother Teresa was a faithful mission worker in Calcutta, India, and she described her work of mercy with the poorest of the poor in these words: "We want to create hope for the person . . . we must give hope, always hope." She was determined to pass along something of the living hope she had through her Lord Jesus Christ.
Two thousand years earlier the apostle Peter did the same thing in a letter that is now part of the Bible. He wanted to share with other believers that we have "new birth into a living hope" through Jesus' resurrection. He wrote to people who were scattered throughout the Roman Empire. Because of persecution for their faith in Christ, many had left their homes and lost their possessions.
Peter reminded his readers that in spite of hardships and challenges, they had a living hope because of Jesus Christ. They had received a new identity through their new birth into Christ's family. Those believers who had given up everything for Jesus had an inheritance that, unlike the things they had owned before, could "never perish, spoil or fade."
If you find yourself somewhere in life without much hope, re-read today's Bible passage and be assured that because of Jesus Christ you too can have living hope.
Father in heaven, thank you for the hope we have be-cause of Jesus Christ, your Son, the risen Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen.
About the author — Arthur J. Schoonveld
Rev. Art Schoonveld is a retired minister in the Christian Reformed Church. Before retiring in 2001, he served churches in California, Illinois, and Michigan. Since his retirement he has worked part-time for the denomination and has served as an interim pastor. Art and his wife, Anita, have four children and nine grandchildren.
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