The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“Who are kept by the power of God” (1 Peter 1:5).

One of the saddest conversations in many ways that I remember having was with a person who believed that he had to trust Christ for salvation but that he also needed to keep himself saved. He lived daily in fear of “losing his salvation.”

My conversation was gracious but probing. I asked him, “Does that mean that every single time you sin, you lose your salvation?” His response was, “No, of course not.” So I asked a little further, “Then how many times do you sin before you lose your salvation?” He had no answer. So I asked, “If you sinned three times, would you lose your salvation?” The person told me, “I don’t think it is the amount of times, it is the type of sins.” I said, “Oh, I understand now. So if you lie, do you lose your salvation? Or if you have a lustful thought, do you lose your salvation? Or is it…” and I paused. I probed a little further, “Instead of me listing off sins, would you just show me from the Bible what sins make you lose your salvation?” Of course he could not turn to a passage. I was thrilled to share just the opposite from the Word of God. Aren’t you glad that we are KEPT by the power of God! It wasn’t that I wanted to win some kind of argument. I wanted him to understand the joy and security of Christ’s gift of salvation.

Join me in thinking often of this today: Not by my strength or ability but by the mighty power of God are we kept by God.

I am so blessed by these verses that I am asking us to read them again today and consider a couple of things.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

Around the world today believers are rejoicing in the wonderful salvation that we have in the Lord Jesus. This salvation results from personally trusting the finished work of the Lord Jesus and trusting Him and His work alone for salvation. The results of this relationship with Him are incredible.

Think of the description of our inheritance. The Apostle Peter says that first of all, it is incorruptible, which speaks of it not being given to decay or running out. He says, second, that it is undefiled, which speaks of it being unsoiled or impaired. Third, Peter speaks of it as being that which fades not away, which speaks of it being perpetual, never withering or dying off. All of this is said to be reserved in Heaven for us.

I am so glad that these blessings do not depend on me or my feelings. They depend fully and finally upon the awesome Lord Himself. Oh friends, what a delightful and precious assurance.

How can I begin to describe this blessing? The LORD God has reserved our inheritance. What a joy and blessing right now today!

Peter’s writing, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that reveals our wonderful Savior always is a blessing to me. Like you, I never tire reading these wonderful, wonderful verses. Let me share them with you and then, well, then I will date myself!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

This is going to date me, for sure.

Perhaps some of the regular readers of my Daily Prescriptions won’t even know what I am talking about! Years and years ago when our children were young, occasionally we watched “Little House on the Prairie.” On one episode Charles learns that he is to inherit a huge sum of money from his father, I think (or was it an uncle?) He started to spend his inheritance before it was ever finalized only to discover that the inheritance was in confederate money. He was not a millionaire after all. What a disappointment to his family, community, and little church.

Not so for those of us who know the Lord Jesus as Savior. Our inheritance is incorruptible, undefiled, never fading, and reserved in Heaven. It doesn’t get any better than this.

I am so amazed at this: We believers are glory bound children of the Lord. What a blessing today!

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children: and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” (Ephesians 5:1-2).

The world is watching. This principle is still the same and maybe even more relevant than ever. How we live in the happy days when everything is going well is fine. But friends, it is in the hard times that the way we believers live demonstrates the reality of our faith and what the Lord has done in our lives. Paul was facing some of the most difficult times of his life. The books of Philippians, Colossians, Philemon and Ephesians are the four epistles that Paul wrote from prison where he was being held on false charges. These verses were written during this time of Paul’s life. Following the Lord and walking in love are the remarkable evidences of genuinely belonging to Him. Consistently living this way demonstrates the change that the Lord makes in His people. Your neighbors need to see this change!

For today: What a privilege to be a follower of the Lord Jesus. Isn’t your heart filled with gratitude toward the Lord for the blessing of belonging to Him?

“And Jesus, when He came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34).

Aren’t you glad that the Lord Jesus does not view people as inconvenient interruptions? Aren’t you glad that our awesome Lord doesn’t become aggravated with us and consider us to be a nuisance? Please understand that such knowledge doesn’t lead to careless living. In fact, it is just the opposite. Loving and appreciating the Lord’s graciousness only causes the believer to seek to honor Him in greater ways.

This was truly the blessing that Mark and Jessica (names changed!) came to exemplify. One night as they had the opportunity to share their story with a friend, Mark quietly said, “We were wandering in life. Everything seemed to be without purpose for us. Slowly we started learning about Christ, and we discovered that He indeed is compassionate and that He has reached out to us. What an amazing Savior He is! We’re so glad that He is our Savior and Shepherd. What a wonderful salvation He offers on the basis of His death, the shedding of His blood and His victorious resurrection! We just wish everyone knew Him!”

For today: Aren’t you glad that the Lord is awesome and compassionate? Don’t you wish everyone knew Him?