Promised Joy

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-6

Step 3: We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1)

Principle 3: Consciously choose to commit all of my life and will to Christ care and control.

“Happy are the meek.” (Matthew 5:8)

Life is rough.  We must constantly struggle against the sin inherent in our mortal bodies.  We live with the realities of pain, sickness, and death.  We live in a world that is constantly decaying.  Even if we turn our lives over to God, what is there to look forward to?

Peter tells us, “Now we live in the hope of eternal life because Christ rose again from the dead.  And God has reserved for His children the priceless gift of eternal life; it is kept in heaven for you. …And God, in His mighty power, will make sure that you get there safely to receive it, because you are trusting Him.  It will be yours in that coming last day for all to see.  So be truly glad!  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a while down here” (1 Peter 1:3-6)

Paul encourages us with this, “And since we are His children, we will share His treasures-for all God gives to His Son Jesus is now ours, too.  But, if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering.  Yet what we suffer now, is nothing compared to the glory He will give us later.  For all creation is waiting patiently and hopefully for that future day when God will resurrect His Children.  For on that day thorns and thistles, sin, death, and decay- the things that overcame the world against its will at God’s command-will all disappear, and the world around us will share in the glorious freedom from sin which God’s children enjoy” (Romans 8:17-21).  These promises are for us!

Our trust in God’s work on our behalf allows us to live in hope and joy.

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