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Day 168 1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy begot us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who in them indicated when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—which things angels desire to look into. 13 Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 17 If you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, 25 but the word of the LORD endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. How often do you receive a letter or text full of hope and encouragement in the work you do? Have you sent a letter of hope and encouragement to the people who work with you? My guess is you haven’t received or sent one because you’re doing your work, work you termed unthankful. How would it make you feel if you got a letter of hope and encouragement from your employer? Would it change how you do your job? I’m sure it would. It would change you from going to a thankless job, clocking in, doing your work, clocking out, going home, and returning the next day to do it all over again, to a person who enjoyed their work because someone cared about the work you do. Peter sent a letter of encouragement to people of the Dispersion who accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord. They were born again and given a new hope in their salvation through the letter he sent them. He blessed God the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ for their faith. Peter knew what it meant to receive God’s grace and encouraged them in their salvation and to rejoice with great joy knowing that the trials they endured wouldn’t last but were for their testing so they could give honor and glory to God. As Christians, you want the same hope and encouragement Peter sent to the people in the Dispersion. You are part of the Dispersion, having been dispersed throughout the world to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. You might not feel like part of the Dispersion because you never went anywhere to preach the gospel. However, the people of the Dispersion proclaimed the gospel to whoever would listen until it came to you, so that the Dispersion now covers the globe, not only one small part of it. Your hope and encouragement are the same as what Peter wrote to the believers about. It’s the knowledge you have in your salvation through Jesus Christ. When you bless God, giving Him honor and glory for your salvation, you feel the inexpressible joy and rejoice that you can tell others about the love of Jesus Christ. You know that the trials you go through aren’t to tear you down but lift you up. They test your faith in Jesus Christ and remind you of the hope you have in your salvation. Don’t let Satan tear you from Jesus Christ but rebuke him and let him know that no matter what trials he brings your way, you will stand firm in your faith in Jesus Christ. Remember what Paul said to the church in Rome. Romans 8:31 What then will we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Since nothing can separate you from God’s love, Satan has no hold over you. The trials he brings you are only that, trials. They test your faith. When you come through the test, you come through as gold refined by fire. Nothing and no one can stand in the way of your faith and salvation in Jesus Christ your Lord. Now go and encourage another Christian today and let them know God’s love for them. Then rejoice with great joy in your faith and salvation. Let’s pray: Father, let me encourage someone today. Let me give them hope in their salvation. Let me help them stand strong in the trials Satan brings against them, knowing it builds their faith and gives them a sure foundation on which their salvation is built. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 31 December 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.