A Victorious Life Of Hope

Read 1 Peter 1:1-2:12

Dee Dee Lee

A life without hope is one lived in defeat and fear. As Christ followers, our hope is in spending
eternity forever with Christ. This can transform our lives into examples of love and security no
matter what happens before we get there. But do our lives model hope, showing others we
live the victorious life in Christ? A quote from Vance Havner says, “Christians are always just a
few heartbeats from heaven. It ought to make a difference.”

In 1 Peter 1 we are called to holy living - living life as if we are secure because of faith in our
great God. The future hope of seeing Christ face to face should give all of us the motivation
to be hope-filled and be risk-takers in serving God and others. The reality is it won’t be easy.
Suffering for the sake of our faith may find us dragging our feet. But Peter reminds us that
trials and struggles refine and strengthen our faith. That wonderful I Peter 1:7 verse about the
refiner’s fire in The Message says, “Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine
faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s
your faith - not your gold - which God will have on display as evidence of His victory.” Yes, it is
all about God, not about us.

Victorious life is what God wants for us. It’s Christ’s victory that will shine out from us to the
world. Being examples of hope will hurt and will often be a struggle, but with God’s help
anything is possible. I was recently encouraged from a quote by Beth Moore in her study
Believing God, “Obedience to God in a difficult situation will ultimately bear fruit, even though
it looks like it might immediately cause hardship.” Risk and perseverance are marks of an
obedient, hope-filled life, and leaning on God is required!

Another wonderful gem in our reading today reminds us that we are a chosen people. The New
Living Translation of 1 Peter 2:5-7 reads, “And now God is building you, as living stones, into
his spiritual temple.…’I am placing a stone in Jerusalem, a chosen cornerstone, and anyone
who believes in him will never be disappointed.’ Yes, He is very precious to you who believe.
But for those who reject Him, ‘The stone that was rejected by the builders has now become
the cornerstone.’ ” As His living stones, our lives glorify Christ as we model victorious hope to
others. What a life!
 DAY 93

P R AY E R
Dear God, You have chosen me as Your living stone and I want to make a difference through
my life. Help me with anxiety in my struggles and give me strength – You are my hope. I want
my life to be victorious and to glorify You. In Christ’s name, Amen.

QUESTIONS
How have you experienced victory in suffering or struggles?

How does your faith enable you to display “living stone” hope?

Is there a “test of faith” in your life now or on the horizon? Write down the hope and help God
has given you in the midst of your situation.

MY REFLECTIONS
Does any particular verse (SCRIPTURE) in today’s reading speak to you?

OBSERVE what this verse is saying to you:

How can you APPLY this verse to your life today?

My PRAYER for today is: