Praise to God for a Living Hope
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, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 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. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 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. 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, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:3-9
Dear God,
Sin separated us from You so You sent Your only Son to die on a cross and become the bridge to heaven for us over death, darkness and sin. Two thousands years ago, on this Holy Saturday, the disciples thought it was over. They watched You die on a cross and thought death had won. They knew and loved You, but didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. They were in a season of waiting. A season of a battle between hope and defeat. We, however, know the end of the story. We know that the tomb was empty on that very next day and You became our Living Hope while we wade through the troubles of this life. I didn’t get to physically see you like the disciples did, yet I love You and believe in You. This life on earth is much like that Holy Saturday for the disciples except for the fact that we know Jesus, our Living Hope, gifted our souls salvation by becoming our bridge to You. Believing in You is all I need to do to refoice with You in Heaven someday. Thank You for being my Living Hope as I navigate this beautiful life filled with joy, pain, love, grief, victory and defeat because no matter what the battle, the war was already won by Jesus.
I Love You, Papa.
Suggested song: “Living Hope” by SEU Worship & Essential Worship