1 Peter 1:3-9 (The Message)
3-5What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole.
6-7I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. 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, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.
8-9You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation.
"Putting up with every king of aggravation" is an understatement in my life! As my sweet Aunt Donnie used to say "I have more on my plate than I can say grace over"! We all know what time we are living in, even folks that are not believers will tell you there is to much going on and something has to give! Life is getting scary for many and if someone is dealing with health issues, well, you get the picture. When I read this scripture the first thing that jumped out at me was "God is keeping careful watch over us and the future". Why do we worry (certainly not supposed to worry) and fret? Why is it so hard for us to trust God? Soooo many answers and all lead to God. Because we want to "see", it is hard to walk by faith. But this is how it works, one step at a time, and one day at a time. Totally relying on God to lead us, trusting Him with laughter and singing. Please read the scripture again and claim it for your own when you need to be strengthened and encouraged. I do believe the time we live in will be more difficult. We need to focus ( I am especially talking to myself) on God, not looking to the right or the left. I pray your week will be wonderful beginning with Spiritual Sunday. Be sure and check them out, you will be blessed.
