I have been reading through the 1 Peter recently and found myself coming back to the same two verses over and over again. The passage begins by reminding us that all of our praise belongs to God. It reminds us that it is only through Him and His great mercy that we are able to have everlasting life with Him.
The reminder turns into a declaration. The author goes from remembering the goodness of our God to looking ahead in great expectation. Looking towards the priceless inheritance waiting in heaven. An inheritance that is pure and beyond anything our small human minds could comprehend. You know what... let's just read it together.
"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." -1 Peter 1:3-4
There's a lot to digest in these two verses. I'll summarize it into this, because of the mercy poured out on us through Jesus' death on the cross, we can now live with great expectations of what is to come for those who believe. We have an inheritance waiting for us in heaven, an inheritance that is far greater than anything we can think or begin to imagine. Free of all the pain and decay of this world, a priceless, unchanging, undefiled inheritance waiting with our heavenly Father.
Come on! You can't tell me we don't serve an amazing God. He is good and He is kind, it doesn't matter what we are walking through He is always right there with us. On our worst days and during our best, He is always right there walking with us.
"For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God's people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News." -Colossians 1:4-5
Live with expectation... What a thought. As believers we should live with great expectation for the Kingdom and things of God. We should be excited for the things of God and ready for Him to move. It can be so easy to set back and think, "well as long as I'm saved I'll be fine just minding my own business over here." No. As believer's it is our job to be the hands and feet of Jesus here on earth.
We are told to go unto all the earth and proclaim the good news. Being the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Matthew tells us that we are the salt of the earth, but what good is salt if it loses its saltiness. It becomes worthless and is trampled under foot. Jesus goes on to tell us through Matthew 5, that we are the light of the world. Like a city set on a hillside providing light to everyone around, that light is not hidden under a basket, no, its set up to provide light in all directions.
I don't know about you, but that makes we want to live my life in pursuit of furthering the kingdom of heaven and being the salt and light of the earth. My pastor says this all the time, let's make heaven richer and hell poorer! In all seriousness, what are you placing expectations on in your life? Is is people? Your job? Your Family? Are you allowing those things/worries keep you from walking out your calling? Or are you holding on tight to the promises of God with great expectation for what is to come?!
Much Love friends,
Alianna
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