Thursday, May 14
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-6
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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,
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and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
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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.
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In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
I once received a beautiful gift basket as a token of appreciation for volunteering with an organization. The basket was wrapped in shiny cellophane and tied with a large bow. When I unwrapped the basket, there was fluffy crinkled paper, silk flowers, and sparkly filler. In the midst of all the filler was a small candle. Don’t get me wrong, the candle was lovely. And I hadn’t expected any sort of appreciation for volunteering. But the packaging of the gift was so extravagant that as I peeled back all the layers, the actual gift was somewhat diminished.
The world will try to offer us hope in all sorts of ways. Money, possessions, jobs, fame…they can all seem shiny and wonderful — especially in days of despair! But the gift of hope we have in Jesus offers us joy and abundance for all of eternity. It’s not an empty promise wrapped in glitter and sheen! God’s grace is good for all of us and lasts through every trial and every storm. It will sustain us and hold us and keep us.
Prayer:
God, I thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus. Let me cling to my salvation and hope in Him! Prevent me from being tempted to trust in the things of this earth — the things that sparkle and shine. I know there will be trials to face in my life, God. I pray you will always remind me of the hope I have in you.
