Hope, Day 6 Follow the example. Read 1 Peter 2:18-25. Every teacher knows that having an example is pretty much required to help their students understand and grasp a concept. Many teachers have shared countless hours of lectures of concepts and theories and philosophies, but we all know that it doesn’t really click for the students until they see an example. Seeing that example and understanding what something looks like in real life helps us to bridge the gap between theory and application. Peter indicates here that Christ is our example. The people had the law and they thought they had understood what it meant. They thought they knew the…

Hope, Day 5 Freedom. Read 1 Peter 2:11-17. What does it truly mean to be free? Often we think of freedom as a reference to political ideals and policies. We talk about our rights and how we are able to exercise those rights. We get offended if we feel that someone is standing in the way of our rights. But, what does it actually mean to live the Christian life as a free person? Here, Peter is bringing up the question because the early believers were having a lot of arguments about what they were able and not able to do with their “freedom” in Christ. Some people were using…

Hope, Day 4 Grow Up. Read 1 Peter 2:1-10. When first gave birth to my children, it was amazing all the things they didn’t know how to do. Babies are so helpless and fragile. They need assistance for literally everything. We have to help them eat. We change them. Over time, we show them new ideas and concepts, new skills and actions. Slowly, over time, they begin to mature. Most every parent has had moments where they wish their child would mature a little faster. But, in many cases, we start to see growth and maturity. Spiritual life is like that as well. Someone who just gives their life to…

Hope, Day 3 Redeemed. Read 1 Peter 1:17-25. The idea of redeeming something is not a concept that we typically use a lot these days. To redeem something refers to gaining or regaining possession of something in exchange for payment. This is more than just purchasing something. Redeeming adds the idea of restoring the item being redeemed. In these verses, we see Peter discussing our lives and how we have been living them. We have been working through and living our lives with as much goal and purpose as we can. However, because of sin in the world, our lives are a disaster. The people then had been trying to…

Hope, Day 2 Grace. Read 1 Peter 1:9-16. We saw yesterday the importance of having hope. But the question becomes, what are we supposed to place our hope in? What are we hoping on and for. As Peter continues sharing with the people, we learn that we are to put our hope on God’s grace. God and his grace are what we all desperately need. Our hope is truly in him and him alone. If we are hoping in the grace of God, then we will see we will never be disappointed. God’s grace is amazing and trustworthy. Are placing our hope in God and in his amazing grace today?