December 4 - 1 Peter 1:3

“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” (1 Peter 1:3).

Advent is a season when we look back with gratitude at Christ’s first coming while also looking forward with hope to His return. In this verse, Peter reminds believers that our hope is not wishful thinking or a fleeting feeling. It’s a living hope that is rooted in the reality of Jesus’ resurrection.

Because Christ rose from the dead, our hope is alive, active, and unbreakable. No matter how uncertain life feels, this hope cannot be taken away. Peter’s audience faced persecution, fear, and loss, yet he pointed them to a truth that transcends circumstance: God, in His mercy, has given us new life. 

This “new birth” means that through Christ, we are made new. We are forgiven, restored, and secure in a future that death itself cannot destroy. As we move through Advent, let this living hope steady your heart. The same God who fulfilled His promise in Bethlehem will one day fulfill His promise to make all things new.

Thanks to the Lord for giving us new life and a living hope in Jesus! May He help us rest in His mercy and look forward with joy to all that He has promised.