Expecting Great Things

Expecting Great Things

God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation. 1 Peter 1:3

PETER WROTE TO BELIEVERS dispersed throughout Asia Minor, challenging and encouraging them to live out their calling in trying times. He began with praises to God and superlatives about the salvation and inheritance we’ve been given, but tucked away in this glowing description of the glories of our faith is a brief comment, almost a passing phrase, about our response. It’s preceded by a mention of the most trying time of all—the death of the Son. Because God raised him from the dead, we can now “live with great expectation.” In other words, regardless of what is happening in your life and world, no matter how much destruction and death seem to hover as a threat, no matter what persecution and adversity you face, God has ultimate answers. The power of the Resurrection is still ours.

Peter should know. He denied Jesus during that unjust trial and fled before the Crucifixion, abandoning the Lord he had promised to die with, if necessary. In the darkest moments between the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, he had surely wondered if all hope was lost, if his years of following this amazing Master had been pointless, if he had chosen the wrong side of history. In later years, he would be beaten, threatened, and imprisoned, and he would follow the steps of Jesus to a cross. But if God could overcome everything Peter had experienced with a resurrection, what can’t he overcome? What problem is too heavy? What nights are too dark? God raised Jesus from the dead; now we live expectantly because we know what he can do.

In fact, Peter knew from Pentecost onward the power of God at work in his people through the Holy Spirit. He had prayed prayers of faith and received their benefits on more occasions than he could count. He had seen God overcome unruly authorities and save Gentiles. God had given him every reason to live with expectation. He has given us every reason too. The life of faith is one of constant anticipation that we will see the goodness of God at work in our lives and our world. We live—and pray—in resurrection power.

Seek this power, expect this power, yearn for this power. And when this power comes, yield to him.