Bible League: Living His Word Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has great mercy, and because of his mercy he gave us a new life. This new life brings us a living hope through Jesus Christ's resurrection from death.— 1 Peter 1:3 ERV What do we hope for? A quote from Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher, says, "The essence of a human being is determined by what he hopes and how he hopes." In short, we are what we hope. There are three categories of hope: no hope, false hope, and true hope. Those without hope say, "Let us eat and drink, because tomorrow we will die" (1 Corinthians 15:32). Don't fool yourself about a better future, they will say. Instead, make the best of what you have while you have it. Others have lost all hope because of the predicaments they find themselves in. Depressed, they throw in the towel. Others have false hope. Some trust in the ability of humankind to overcome all problems, benefiting from the achievements of science and technology. Others hold on to religious tenets that promise them all sorts of blessings, either in or after this life. In today's verse, Peter points to the only source of true hope: Jesus Christ's resurrection from death. Throughout the Bible, you will find that hope is linked with God's plan in Christ to renew His creation. That already starts in Genesis 3, right after the fall of Adam and Eve, when God promises the child that will crush the head of the snake. That hope resounds in every book of the Bible! Back to Plato, who mentioned not only "what" but also "how" people hope. Some people say, "Let's hope for a better future," but they act like they know it won't happen. Other people's hope is overstrained—they so eagerly desire for things to change that they lose reality. Again, Peter shows another way. The hope he refers to is not weak but "living." Christ lives, and in Him, our hope is alive! Also, even though Peter is highly excited ("Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ"), he is not talking about an irrational hope. The following verse makes that clear: "Now we wait to receive the blessings God has for his children. These blessings are kept for you in heaven. They cannot be ruined or be destroyed or lose their beauty" (1 Peter 1:4). We still live in the reality of this sinful world. Trials and tribulations will come our way. But we don't lose hope because God's power protects us and keeps us safe (see verse 5). So, with one final reference to Plato's statement, how does the hope we have determine us? Will people see the hope of Christ in us? Do we make them jealous of that hope? Do we encourage those with no hope or false hope to turn to Christ and find the only true hope? Let our lives be beacons of hope in a hopeless world! By Anton de Vreugd, Bible League International staff, the Netherlands Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingGenesis 23, 24 Genesis 23 -- Death and Burial of Sarah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Genesis 24 -- Isaac and Rebekah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 8 Matthew 8 -- Jesus Heals Leper; Centurion's Servant; Peter's Mother-in-Law; Cost of Discipleship; Rebuking the Storm; Demons into Pigs NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But Moses pleaded with the LORD, “O Lord, I'm not very good with words. I never have been, and I'm not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”Then the LORD asked Moses, “Who makes a person's mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.” Insight Moses pleaded with God to let him out of his mission. After all, he was not a good speaker and would probably embarrass both himself and God. But God looked at Moses' problem quite differently. All Moses needed was some help, and who better than God to help him say and do the right things? God made his mouth and would give him the words to say. Challenge It is easy for us to focus on our weaknesses, but if God asks us to do something, then he will help us get the job done. If the job involves some of our weak areas, then we can trust that he will provide words, strength, courage, and ability where needed. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness.Delight in divine service is a token of acceptance. Those who serve God with a sad countenance, because they do what is unpleasant to them, are not serving him at all; they bring the form of homage, but the life is absent. Our God requires no slaves to grace his throne; he is the Lord of the empire of love, and would have his servants dressed in the livery of joy. The angels of God serve him with songs, not with groans; a murmur or a sigh would be a mutiny in their ranks. That obedience which is not voluntary is disobedience, for the Lord looketh at the heart, and if he seeth that we serve him from force, and not because we love him, he will reject our offering. Service coupled with cheerfulness is heart-service, and therefore true. Take away joyful willingness from the Christian, and you have removed the test of his sincerity. If a man be driven to battle, he is no patriot; but he who marches into the fray with flashing eye and beaming face, singing, "It is sweet for one's country to die," proves himself to be sincere in his patriotism. Cheerfulness is the support of our strength; in the joy of the Lord are we strong. It acts as the remover of difficulties. It is to our service what oil is to the wheels of a railway carriage. Without oil the axle soon grows hot, and accidents occur; and if there be not a holy cheerfulness to oil our wheels, our spirits will be clogged with weariness. The man who is cheerful in his service of God, proves that obedience is his element; he can sing, "Make me to walk in thy commands, 'Tis a delightful road." Reader, let us put this question--do you serve the Lord with gladness? Let us show to the people of the world, who think our religion to be slavery, that it is to us a delight and a joy! Let our gladness proclaim that we serve a good Master. Daily Light on the Daily Path Luke 10:42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."Psalm 4:6,7 Many are saying, "Who will show us any good?" Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD! • You have put gladness in my heart, More than when their grain and new wine abound. Psalm 42:1,2 For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. • My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 63:1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. John 6:35,34 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. • Then they said to Him, "Lord, always give us this bread." Luke 10:39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. Psalm 27:4 One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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