2026 Easter Devotions
Thursday, April 9
1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Although you have not seen him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
“… 6 In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials …”
The new life given to us through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection is not a cake walk for us any more than it was for the disciples in the first century. According to history and tradition, nearly all the original twelve died a martyr’s death. Some were tortured while others were simply killed for proclaiming the faith. Even with this impending doom, Peter calls for rejoicing because of the salvation given through Christ.
It is unlikely that we will face the same perils as those first century witnesses. Still, our salvation is also assured through the death and resurrection of our Lord just like it was for them. We too have received the same promise, the same gift, the same new life they were given. So how do we experience today the trials mentioned by Peter.
Perhaps, while not as brutal or life-threatening, simply sharing our faith in the context of twenty-first century American can be just as perilous. That’s because Jesus’ words of love, hope, peace, justice, and forgiveness seem to be anathema in today’s society. Speaking of caring for the stranger, welcoming the immigrant, providing for the least, lost, and forgotten, and following Jesus’ command to love one another seems to have fallen out of fashion.
Peter reminds us that, even when we face such difficulties, we are to rejoice that God’s salvation has been given to us – and even to those who don’t follow Jesus’ way of love. For us, the peril is keeping God’s grace for all balanced with the need to give witness to the love, hope, peace and joy Jesus brings.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, through Your death and resurrection, we have been given new life. Inspire me to use this life to show forth Your love, peace, hope, and joy in all that I do and say. Amen.