“Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ returns.” 1 Pet. 1:13
Heavenly Father, from beginning to end, you have always dealt with us grace-fully—not as a petite ballet dancer, but as the sovereign, generous King of the cosmos.
By grace, you created us as your image-bearers—designed for a life of intimacy with you, and fruitful engagement in your world.
By grace, you raised us to newness of life in Jesus—once laden with guilt and shame; now we are in Christ, and Christ is in us.
By grace, you relate to us on a daily, every-moment basis—steadfast in your love, perfect in your providence, at work in all things for our good.
And according to this verse, a fabulous future is guaranteed and near. Grace-in-part will give way to grace-in-full. Eternity will be a never-ending, heart-thrilling, imagination-expanding celebration of the riches of your grace for us in Jesus.
Why would we set our hope on anything or anyone else than Jesus and the all-things-new glories of his return? If we don’t set our hope FULLY on Jesus, it will be seized by some groundless “hope du jour.” Or we’ll be easily seduced by a carpetbagger selling “snake-oil hope.” Or Satan will sabotage our ability/willingness to hope, and we’ll drift downwardly into sadness, despair, anger, and cynicism.
Father, while the aroma of Easter is fresh in our hearts, restore in us the joy of our salvation. Stoke the fires of our hope. Fill us with your Holy Spirit. Before long, all things are new and beautiful. So Very Amen.