When we remember God’s faithfulness in the past, it encourages us to walk forward in the hard things we face today.

Peter reminds us in his letter that the prophets of old had spent their lives searching carefully for the salvation and that it had come through Jesus— just like God said it would. (1 Peter 1:10)

In fact, many very specific prophecies were recorded about Jesus’ life before he was ever born.

In Josh McDowell’s book, The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict, McDowell describes an article in Science Speaks by Peter Stoner which uses statistical probability theory to determine the likelihood of one man fulfilling all 48 prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament. The likelihood of this happening is 1 in 10 to the 157th power or 1 in 10 with 157 zeroes behind it! But Jesus did just that!

God keeps His Word!

The things God said would happen, happened! AND the things God says WILL happen will also happen! He defies the odds ALL the time!

That same promise-keeping God IS with us!

And if we believe what we say we believe-this supernatural truth of “God-with-us”, (that even the angels desire to look into- v 12), should compel an on-going, diligent response in us:

Peter tells us, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13-16)

Those who have been brought from death to life are called to walk away from our former desires and seek to live like our Lord—be holy for He is holy. ( v 16).

Our motivation to obey the Lord, even in our suffering, is not to earn our salvation (we never could); but because we are thankful for what He has done for us.

As we remember we were bought with the highest of price—the blood of the sinless Lamb who conquered sin and death for us —we are compelled to live differently!

And like our Savior, whose glory was revealed through suffering on the cross, friend, our hardest of days are often our greatest opportunities for others to see Jesus in us.

Others will be drawn to Him as they see our our hope and faith continue to be in Him:

“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 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.”(v 17-21)

Oh friend, are you going through a trial? This faith you hold onto is real!

It was foretold by the prophets! Salvation has come to us! And that same Savior is where our faith and hope should rest—not in ourselves!

And, as we keep our eyes on our Lord, Who is with us, as we seek to obey Him, as we continue to trust Him more than we trust ourselves, we will find strength for all that comes at us!

And… our lives will be marked by hope and others will be drawn to the source of our strength—Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith!

whataSavior

read1stPeter

from 1st Peter 1:10-21

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