He is risen!

And he is satisfied, as he sees the unfolding of the Father’s plan, first in the development of the called-out ones, and then in the blessing of Israel and all the families of the earth.  Isaiah 53:11-12

Oh, what the faithfulness and resurrection of our Lord means to us and to every human life!

Our hope is LIVING, and the end result of our Blessing is sure!  This LIVING HOPE is similar to the joy set before him, Hebrews 12:2,  which is also the joy (and hope) set before us!  “…we may have strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the HOPE SET BEFORE US.   This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”  Hebrews 6:18-20!!!

This LIVING HOPE will bear the fruit of the expectation, first in the heavenly inheritance according to His promise, part of the LIVING JOY set before us!

Until that final reward this LIVING HOPE is protected, by the process of our own protection through the power of God.  Another aspect of the LIVING JOY set before us is our present inheritance of protection and strength under Divine Loving Providence.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth (begettal) into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—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 in the last time.”  1 Peter 1:3-5

This LIVING HOPE provides the fiery trials that we experience for a short time, for the refinement of our faith.  The result will be glory to the Father and the Son. There is LIVING JOY in this process of refinement because it leads to our growth to their glory.

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”  1 Peter 1:6-7

This LIVING HOPE gives us a great depth of joy, another part of the hope and joy set before us, with the ultimate result of the deliverance of all in Adam.

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of souls.”  1 Peter 1:8-9

Hallelujah, what a Savior!