“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ”
1 Peter 1:3-5 NET
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Some of us are not naturally joyful all the time or even some of the time. We are not sad or depressed just not overtly joyful. And there are times when someone else’s joy can be irritating or even inappropriate. Yet here is Peter writing to people going through terrible trials starting off with a joyful burst of praise! Because he knows from personal experience that it is important never to forget and stand in the truth that Jesus is the source of our hope and joy and the answer to our questions.
He gives us, in three verses, a wide angle and aerial view of what You, God have done for us and then a close up view of what You provides. A living hope. Rounding off with the promised future.
Nearly everything we do is motivated by some hope somewhere down the line. Big hopes, small or insignificant hopes. We hope that we will be successful, that the preacher won’t go on too long. We hope the best for our children, grandchildren and friends. We hope we can think of something for diner. We hope we will remember what we need to do today! Hope is a part of being human. But, nothing can give us a living hope but You.
It is a living sure hope (1:3), an imperishable eternal hope (1:4) and a protected enduring hope (1:5). We may be disappointed in this life but we have a living , sure, imperishable, and enduring hope of our inheritance in Christ now and throughout eternity. Keep that living hope burning alive and bright in our hearts every day, come what may.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Suggestions for prayer . . .
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
For family, friends, neighbours, we pray they will find Your living hope and have some of their hopes realised today..
For our church family, ministers and all who serve, let then see their prayer hopes realised..
For all the Royal family. Charles ongoing treatment. Kates full recovery.
For our local council that their hopes will be for our communities best.
For our government and MPs and their families. Hope they will see a godly way forward.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Give Ukraine a living hope of peace. Change Russia to end war.
For families from Ukraine who are praying to go home to family, but are having to stay in the UK.
For Gaza an end to killing, hostage taking and hate. Send hope for peace talks into the situation.
For overseas relief agencies and medical support, for Your aid to all they do.
For those with little reason to be hopeful send miracles and show them Your care.
For us to awake refreshed, and the hope of a good day realised it is a whether it is a busy, challenging or same old day!
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.,
Worship Saturday 24th February 2024
Perhaps one to listen to and enjoy the words. Or just read with thanksgiving. Their are comments about it by the author underneath the lyrics.
How great the chasm that lay between us
How high the mountain I could not climb
In desperation, I turned to heaven
And spoke your name into the night
Then through the darkness
Your loving kindness
Tore through the shadows of my soul
The work is finished, the end is written
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Who could imagine so great a mercy?
What heart could fathom such boundless grace?
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear my sin and bear my shame
The cross has spoken, I am forgiven
The king of kings calls me His own
Beautiful saviour, I’m yours forever
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Hallelujah, praise the one who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
(repeat)
Then came the morning that sealed the promise
Your buried body began to breathe
Out of the silence, the roaring lion
Declared the grave has no claim on me
(Repeat)
Jesus Yours is the victory
Hallelujah, praise the one who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
(Repeat)
Phil Wickham, the author of this song, spoke about what it meant to him.
He said, “God has rescued us from a place that we could never have rescued ourselves. Our future was death, but Jesus came in and brought life – a living hope – into our souls and into our lives. I love singing the truth of ‘Living Hope,’ and this song has already become an anthem at both of the churches where we lead worship. I hope anybody who gets to hear it not only sings along, but their hearts’ cling to it as well.”