July 13, 2017 – I Peter 1:3-4

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. I Peter 1:3-4.

Recently I read this question, “Have you ever tried to receive something that is already yours?”  God loves us, and has given us, through Jesus Christ, an inheritance.  The word inheritance makes us think a pile of money. Yet this inheritance cannot be earned, no matter how smart we think we are.  Or how strong or beautiful we are.  Or how hard we try to be good.

This inheritance is a gift from God, through becoming a new creature in Jesus Christ, God’s Son.  The gift contains forgiveness of our sins, the desire to obey God, and loving others. We become a new person in Christ and through our faith in Him, we are protected from evil.  And we find the ultimate freedom, the freedom from fear.

This is living expectantly.  We look forward to the joy of being with the Lord.  We grow up longing to be someone else, to be free and live free with no fences around us.  The fence of ‘promise’ is to desire obedience and faith in God.

Music has a ‘fence’ of rhythm.  Once, as a girl, I played for Grandpa.  He demanded a steady beat.  As I played with free abandon, he placed his hand on my shoulder and beat the time.  This is what our Father in Heaven does, he curbs our thinking and behavior to a steady life.

God has a gift for each of us, and joy is ahead.  When we are able to endure trials, difficulties, on this earth for a little while, we will be ready to enjoy our inheritance with Him…and sing, Sweeter as the days go by…

And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. I Peter 1:5-6.