Inheriting a Fortune
Opening Prayer
Holy God, You are the only one I seek. I find life in You and in You alone.
Read 1 PETER 1:1-12
[1] Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, [2] who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. [3] 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, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, [5] 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. [6] In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. [7] These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. [8] Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, [9] for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. [10] Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, [11] trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. [12] It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What does it mean for us to be exiles?My Green Card arrived after months of applications, interviews, waiting. Having been working in the USA on a temporary visa for religious workers I was now “official” and belonged–or so I thought. And I really wanted to belong, to be a part of this new country which was now our home.But when I read the accompanying letter and saw the official title of the new status, it was nothing about belonging. I was merely a “Resident Alien.” Officially, I was resident–I lived here and had my home here. But it didn’t mean I belonged. Officially I was still a stranger living in a foreign country. Originally written in Greek, this letter of 1 Peter is addressed to the diaspora: God’s “exiles,” strangers in the world–pilgrims, just passing through (1). It’s a word used only three times in the Bible and refers to people who stay for a brief season in a foreign country. Although as God’s people we are “resident aliens” in this world and face tough struggles (6), we have a place where we do belong and an eternal inheritance that will never “perish, spoil or fade” (4). That should give us enormous joy (6,8) and make us praise God (3)!
Apply
Take time to focus on the future inheritance God has already prepared for you.
Closing prayer
Tender Savior, help me to see the hope that waits for me when life is dark and pressing in.
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