Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Alan Jackson singing the old hymn … Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus … singing of God’s promise of our eternal security in His saving grace.
Highlight Verse[s]: 1st Peter 1:3-4 [NKJV] …
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, …
… Writing of God’s promise of eternal inheritance to a people who were being oppressed unto death by Nero …
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Highlight Context: 1st Peter 1:3-9 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Peter, writing of God’s promise of eternal security in Christ.
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Reference Passage #1 …Proverbs 3: 5-6 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Solomon, passes along the trust we have in God’s eternal security.
Reference Passage #2 … Hebrews 11:6 [NKJV] …
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
… Our faith in God’s promises is our hope … our security.
My Journal for Today: … Our Daily Bread author, David Branon, in teaching about our eternal inheritance in Christ, uses a common fear as his illustration. He wrote: When I asked a friend who is about to retire what she feared about her next stage of life, she said, “I want to make sure I don’t run out of money.” The next day as I was talking to my financial counselor he gave me advice on how I might avoid running out of money. Indeed, we all want the security of knowing we’ll have the resources we need for the rest of our lives.
No financial plan can provide an absolute guarantee of earthly security. But there is a plan that extends far beyond this life and indefinitely into the future.
I would say, and wouldn’t you agree, that it’s pretty common for people in these troubled times, especially us older folks, to be concerned - if not fearful - about our financial security? Well, imagine the fears of the people to whom Peter was writing his letters in the first century (see highlight passages above). These Christians were being persecuted unto death by Nero; and they were laying their eternal hopes on their relationship with and faith in Christ.
And really, what Peter wrote to those 1st century Christians in Asia Minor is no different than the hope/faith we have today in our eternal destiny and inheritance in Christ. As the attached photo depicts, our retirement plan in Christ is way “out of this world!” In our faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross, we are guaranteed - did you get that? … GUARANTEED! … inheritance of His kingdom … ALL OF IT - … FOREVER!
So, all we have to do is what Alan Jackson sings (linked) and turn our eyes of hope on Jesus; and He’ll take care of us. ... Not a bad retirement plan, wouldn’t you say?!
My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … My hope is in You, Lord. … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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