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 – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that’s ready to be revealed in the last time.
I Peter 1:3-5
We have an inheritance of salvation that we receive through our faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation, according to Webster’s dictionary, means “the saving of man from the power and effects of sin.” Peter explains three dimensions of salvation which are: the new birth, the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, and our inheritance in heaven. (I Peter 1:1-5) Peter begins his first letter by giving the recipients of this letter an understanding that it is only through faith in Jesus Christ that they can receive salvation and live a life worthy of their calling. Also, it is the only way they could rejoice while enduring persecution and suffering. How true that is today as we seek to bring Christ into a world that often rejects the message of salvation. At the core of our lives lies faith, and without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)
Does your life reflect the three dimensions of salvation by new birth, transformation and hope for eternal life? Sometimes we are so busy living our lives that we forget the amazing inheritance we have in Christ that never spoils or fades. It is so easy to get caught up with the things of daily living, working for things that will not last. The one thing that lasts forever is our inheritance of salvation through faith. Seek today to bring others to this lasting inheritance.
Heavenly Father,
Sometimes I am so busy with life that I forget that You ARE life. Sometimes I forget that the most important relationship I have is with You and I work for things that are not lasting. Help me to remember that my lasting inheritance is in You and give me the opportunities to lead others to You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
