NOTES:

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, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is 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. In all 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 the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 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 end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

1 Peter 1:3-9 (NIV)

WHEN THE FIRES OF LIFE COME WHERE DO WE LOOK?

Look UP at HIM

Look BACK at HISTORY

Look FORWARD to HOPE

Set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.  1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)

BOTTOM LINE:

Hope is not what your HEART FEELS but where your EYES are FIXED .

THE CHALLENGE:

FIX your EYES