Rejoicing in Our Heavenly Hope

Tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of a very challenging time in our nation's history. The attacks on American soil caused many of use to realize that this world is not an easy place to live. It is a striking reminder of the many difficulties, trials and challenges that we face in this life because of the effects of sin.

The believers in Peter's day were also living in difficult times. Peter wrote to encourage them that they can rejoice in the midst of life's trials because of their heavenly hope. Tomorrow, Lord willing, we will look at 1 Peter 1:3-9, which shows us that this hope is not just a mere longing for better days to come, but it is a transformed view of all of life because of what God has done through the work of Christ.

I encourage you to read 1 Peter chapter 1 before coming to church tomorrow, and, if you are able, read the whole book so you can see how thoroughly Peter develops these ideas of hope in the midst of suffering.