1 Peter 1:4-5

1 Peter 1:4-5

Thoughts from Dayna Spaulding

Dive Deeper

WYAIC Slider- wk 7 (1)
Slide

“…and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed at the last time.”

1 Peter 1:4-5

wk8-BTS
Slide

What would you do if you inherited a large sum of money or a nice property somewhere? Would you use the money to pay off bills or finance a dream? Would you live on the property or sell it to fund some other project? Would having it make you feel happy, hopeful, or secure? The fact is that any earthly inheritance we receive is always limited and never totally secure. We could spend all the money, or a natural disaster could ruin the property. In contrast, the inheritance we receive with Jesus as Lord of our life will last forever.

Slide

The identity we focus on this week is that we are heirs through Christ. Today’s verses, penned by the Apostle Peter, help clarify what this means to us. Peter wrote this letter to believers living in what is today known as the country of Turkey. They were enduring persecution and suffering and needed encouragement. Peter reminds them that they have a resurrected life through belief in Jesus Christ. Jesus restored our relationship with God by taking the punishment we deserved. His resurrection provides the power we need to live a life pleasing to God. His death and resurrection also make us heirs.

Slide

Peter teaches us that this status as heirs and our inheritance is eternally secure. It will not spoil or be taken away. We cannot spend it all or use it up. We are now sons and daughters or God! That means we experience the perfect love of our Father in heaven, and we possess all His riches. Forever. This is amazing to think about.

Slide

We are forever heirs of God. The power of God, the power that forged stars, spawned oceans, and birthed all life shields us and protects us. We may suffer disease, accident, and death in this world but none of it can separate us from God or our destiny in Heaven. We are secure until Jesus one day returns and unites Heaven and earth. It is truly awesome, but how can we live out this life as heirs as we face our daily challenges?

wk8-MIR
Slide

This life can be hell on earth. People abuse and exploit others. Nations invade other nations. Disease can ravage our bodies and depression can ransack our joy and hope. What does it mean being heirs of God in such a world? Does this status as heirs provide any relief for us today? Do we ignore the pain, keep our heads down and find happiness in a pill, a bottle, or Netflix? Do we retreat into protected circles and ignore the world? Or do we claim our status as heirs and start living it out?

Slide

Meditate daily on the fact that you are an heir of God from the moment you commit your life to Jesus until… forever. Jesus initiated the Kingdom of God when he walked on this earth. This kingdom heals and restores. This kingdom offers peace, love, joy, and hope today in the present and not just for the future. As an heir you can know that you are fully known, fully seen, fully loved, and fully supported by a mighty God. You will not avoid suffering, but just like the believers in Peter’s time, you can face your daily troubles with a rock-solid assurance that God is walking beside you and providing you the power to endure. With a prayer, you can talk with God your Father when you want and as often as you want. Because you are an heir. Because you have a safe and secure inheritance.

Slide

As God’s heir, you also have responsibilities. We are called to reflect God’s love and glory to those around us. Being heirs means growing in our faith and losing the self-centeredness that often marks our lives. God calls us to serve His Kingdom and spread the good news and hope of Jesus to other people. God will use our efforts to make more heirs, more brothers and sisters for us in His kingdom. We will find that as we do our work as heirs, our lives will have a richness and meaning that we would never have without Jesus as our Lord.

Slide

And one day, when you are united with Jesus, you will step fully into this inheritance. No more hurt, no more pain, no more sorrow. No where else and in no other person or religion will you find such a rich inheritance.

wk8-EIP
Slide

Father, thank you for making me an heir to your kingdom. Help me fully know that this inheritance is totally secure. Help me fully realize the wealth that this means for my life. Empower me to serve your kingdom by spreading the news of your love to others. Thank you for all you have given me. In the name of Jesus, I pray these things, Amen.

previous arrow
next arrow

“…and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade.  This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed at the last time.” 

1 Peter 1:4-5

Behind the Scenes

What would you do if you inherited a large sum of money or a nice property somewhere?  Would you use the money to pay off bills or finance a dream?  Would you live on the property or sell it to fund some other project?  Would having it make you feel happy, hopeful, or secure?  The fact is that any earthly inheritance we receive is always limited and never totally secure.   We could spend all the money, or a natural disaster could ruin the property.   In contrast, the inheritance we receive with Jesus as Lord of our life will last forever.   

The identity we focus on this week is that we are heirs through Christ.  Today’s verses, penned by the Apostle Peter, help clarify what this means to us.  Peter wrote this letter to believers living in what is today known as the country of Turkey.  They were enduring persecution and suffering and needed encouragement.   Peter reminds them that they have a resurrected life through belief in Jesus Christ.   Jesus restored our relationship with God by taking the punishment we deserved.   His resurrection provides the power we need to live a life pleasing to God.   His death and resurrection also make us heirs. 

Peter teaches us that this status as heirs and our inheritance is eternally secure.   It will not spoil or be taken away.  We cannot spend it all or use it up.   We are now sons and daughters or God!   That means we experience the perfect love of our Father in heaven, and we possess all His riches.   Forever.   This is amazing to think about.    

We are forever heirs of God.   The power of God, the power that forged stars, spawned oceans, and birthed all life shields us and protects us.   We may suffer disease, accident, and death in this world but none of it can separate us from God or our destiny in Heaven.  We are secure until Jesus one day returns and unites Heaven and earth.  It is truly awesome, but how can we live out this life as heirs as we face our daily challenges? 

Make it Real

This life can be hell on earth.   People abuse and exploit others.  Nations invade other nations.  Disease can ravage our bodies and depression can ransack our joy and hope.  What does it mean being heirs of God in such a world?  Does this status as heirs provide any relief for us today? Do we ignore the pain, keep our heads down and find happiness in a pill, a bottle, or Netflix?  Do we retreat into protected circles and ignore the world?  Or do we claim our status as heirs and start living it out? 

Meditate daily on the fact that you are an heir of God from the moment you commit your life to Jesus until… forever.  Jesus initiated the Kingdom of God when he walked on this earth.  This kingdom heals and restores.  This kingdom offers peace, love, joy, and hope today in the present and not just for the future.  As an heir you can know that you are fully known, fully seen, fully loved, and fully supported by a mighty God.   You will not avoid suffering, but just like the believers in Peter’s time, you can face your daily troubles with a rock-solid assurance that God is walking beside you and providing you the power to endure.  With a prayer, you can talk with God your Father when you want and as often as you want.  Because you are an heir.  Because you have a safe and secure inheritance.    

As God’s heir, you also have responsibilities.   We are called to reflect God’s love and glory to those around us.  Being heirs means growing in our faith and losing the self-centeredness that often marks our lives.  God calls us to serve His Kingdom and spread the good news and hope of Jesus to other people.   God will use our efforts to make more heirs, more brothers and sisters for us in His kingdom.  We will find that as we do our work as heirs, our lives will have a richness and meaning that we would never have without Jesus as our Lord.   

And one day, when you are united with Jesus, you will step fully into this inheritance.   No more hurt, no more pain, no more sorrow.   No where else and in no other person or religion will you find such a rich inheritance.

Johnny Spence

Johnny Spence

ACF Devo Team

End in Prayer

Father, thank you for making me an heir to your kingdom.   Help me fully know that this inheritance is totally secure.  Help me fully realize the wealth that this means for my life.  Empower me to serve your kingdom by spreading the news of your love to others.  Thank you for all you have given me.  In the name of Jesus, I pray these things, Amen.  

Tagged