LIVING LIFE FOR THE LIVING HOPE

 

    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great     mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

1 Peter 1:3

The Living hope

- We've been born again into new creations to a living hope through Christ Jesus. He is our living hope.

- We first started to see the power of God that raised Jesus from the dead when we started to believe and put our faith in Him. 1 Peter 1:9 ‘’obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls’’. His power does not end here, there's more that we can see when the face of the Lord is revealed to us when He comes back (Revelation 22:4).

- The living hope that we have is incorruptible, unfading, undefiled. The hopes that we had in this world when we're not yet born again were perishable and temporary (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

 “It is also called a ‘living hope,’ because it is imperishable. Other hopes fade like withering flowers. The hopes of the rich, the boasts of the proud, all these will die out as a candle when it flickers in the socket. The hope of the greatest monarch has been crushed before our eyes; he set up the standard of victory too soon, and has seen it trailed in the mire. There is no unwaning hope beneath the changeful moon: the only imperishable hope is that which climbs above the stars, and fixes itself upon the throne of God and the person of Jesus Christ.” (Spurgeon)

Isaiah 49:23 (NIV), “Those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”

Let’s not cease this living hope until Jesus comes. Who among us here cannot wait for His great come back?

Christians cannot wait for the second coming of the Lord Jesus. These are the believers who confidently say, ''Maranatha, Lord Jesus'' not only by words but by actions.  

How do we express ''Maranatha, Lord Jesus'' in actions? 

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

- When we conduct ourselves as saved Christians, living a born again life and living a holy life. For God called us to be holy. How?

Called to be Holy

Trying to be holy is the hardest thing to attain, in this world governed by Satan. Holiness is not so much something we possess as it is something that possesses us. Let the holiness of God governs us. This the only way to be holy as He is holy. If we abide in Him, we will be consumed by His holiness. He wants us to take part in what's in Him. 

Brothers and sisters, let us stop trying to be holy by our religious actions. These things will never be enough for us to be holy. We will end up being hypocrites. The holiness that we know may be different from God's. Let us stop trying to pull holiness toward us. Let us draw near to that holiness. We know exactly where we can find it. Let's draw near to God and share in His holy presence, holy peace, holy love, holy joy. These are the things that the world cannot give.

The impartation of God’s holiness in us caused us to obey Him because we know that even His will is holy. We will be led to holy actions and works in His kingdom as what the Lord Jesus did.  It drives us to act upon His holiness in us. To spread it in the world of unholiness and darkness. 

Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

-If we know that we are saved. Let's live saved. Christians who are living in new way of life, in words and actions can surely, confidently say- 

‘’Maranatha, Lord Jesus. We can’t wait to see you face to face’’.

Reflections:

• How much do you hope for the come back of the Lord Jesus?
• How can you express, ''Maranatha, Lord Jesus'' without saying in words? 
• How do you live for the living hope you believe in?
• How much do you struggle living a holy life?
• Do you do religious things to be holy? or you draw near to God to impart His holiness?
• What God's holiness made you to be?