Do you ever feel your circumstances are too tough to handle? Whether it is a multitude of inconveniences, overwhelming duties and responsibilities, sickness, or persecution and attack, life in this world has a way of wearing people down. So how are we as Christians called to handle these times? How do we thrive in this life … regardless of our circumstances? Well, according to the Apostle Peter, there is a way to do just that!
In 1 Peter Chapter 1, Peter reminds us that we have a living hope, a steadfast assurance inside of us because Jesus has been raised from the dead. Having hope is extremely important when facing difficult circumstances, but what exactly is it that we are to place that hope in? Is it life going just as we planned? Circumstances always being lined up with our desires? Well, if you live enough life in this world, you have already experienced some disappointments, because life does not always go according to our plan. Peter gives us the answer in 1 Peter 1:13.
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being
sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that
will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:13
If we are going to thrive despite any circumstance that comes our way, the only place we need to set our hope is on the grace of God in our lives. When Jesus returns, we will receive the inheritance that Peter says we have in Jesus. It is an inheritance that will last … forever. We know that our circumstances here in this world are just as temporary as the world is itself. We have a living hope as believers that God is going to bring us to our real home when Jesus returns … the best circumstance any of us could hope to have. It is as though Peter is saying, “Get your mind right about this…” Peter does not want us to lose hope during tough circumstances. Our hope is a living hope, a powerful hope, and that hope is in the grace of God in our lives.
The grace of God is evidently something to behold. Peter tells us that the angels ponder what we have in God’s grace. They are amazed at the grace God pours out on us, and we are to fix our hope on that amazing grace. It is by God’s grace that we are saved. His grace empowers us to live holy lives, which Peter indicates is of great importance for us to thrive. We are set apart by God, and when we focus on His grace in our lives, we have power to say no to sin … and yes to God. Grace is not just pardon … it is power.
What do you think of when you wake up in the morning? Where do you place your hope for the day? Is it on your circumstances going well? Is it on your ability to handle everything? If we are going to thrive in a world that is not our real home, let us be encouraged to place our hope fully on God’s grace in our lives. His grace is sufficient for everything we face, even circumstances that are not turning out like we would like. His grace empowers us to live into His desire for us to live holy lives and to focus on His grace, which gives us the right perspective when it comes to our circumstances.
This Week: Set your hope fully on the grace that we have in God. His unmerited favor, His loving work in your life, and the inheritance of a perfect world of which we really belong to in Heaven. One day Jesus is coming back … and when He does, everything will be perfected!
-Pastor Robert