Consider His Benefits - Part 4

Read:
1 Peter 1:3-9

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 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.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 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.

8 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, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Think:
The benefits of the Lord are great and wonderful. It is often easy to forget what life was like before we came to know the Lord Jesus. The Scriptures say we were without God and without hope in the world.

I read some comments that Pat Robertson, of the 700 Club fame, made regarding the tragedy in Haiti. He believes it is God's curse on the nation for turning to satanism 20 years ago. I do not pretend to know what God does or does not do or why but I thought it was interesting that Mr. Robertson feels he knows the counsel of God in matters like this.

Regardless, what struck me most were the sheer number of comments that followed the article. The anger and vitriol in the comments were amazing. Some were calling for Robertson to die! Some were blaming God. Most, however, dismissed Robertson as a lunatic that still believes there is a God that does things like this. All could be answered by nature and science and God is just a leftover myth of the middle ages.

Yet, this day we read that God is active and blesses people. We read that He is a God of grace and loves to bless. This day we hear that we serve a God that gives new beginnings, adoption with all the rewards that come with it and protection.

Think through those things. A God of new beginnings. The God whose mercy is new every morning. A God that offers hope that cannot die through the resurrection of Jesus. A God that can take our deadness and make it alive. A God that welcomes our brokenness and our longings so He can fill them through Christ.

He is also runs an adoption agency. He knows the importance of having a home. He offers an inheritance to those that call Him dad. How do you get an inheritance? You have to be in the will. How do you get in the will? Usually you have to be family. This inheritance is different than anything we might get on earth. This inheritance never runs out or rusts out. That is a huge benefit for those of us that are accustomed to living paycheck to paycheck!

He is also like a big brother that instinctively protects. He is able and willing to shield us. He is actively preserving and protecting our trust in Him until we make it home. That's an often unseen benefit!

Take time to reflect on these great benefits that are yours because of the death and resurrection of Christ. Give Him praise, like Peter did, for all these benefits.

Pray that the survivors in Haiti will meet the God of new beginnings, adoption and protection.

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