Have You Considered Recently. . .

That as true followers of Jesus Christ, Christians, we are chosen foreigners, scattered according to God’s fore-ordered purpose to sanctify us through the Holy Spirit leading us on toward submission by means of the consecrating power of Christ’s bloody self-sacrifice?  That we have been regenerated because God is abundantly merciful to us as sinners, and we are looking toward our assurance of eternal life then and now only because Christ not only sacrificed himself, but also conquered death and rose again from the grave?  That the sanctifying sacrifice  and the satisfying resurrection of Jesus produces an inheritance in Christ that cannot decay, cannot be defiled, cannot disappear, and cannot be destroyed, and it is our inheritance to enjoy?  That we can be certain it is ours to enjoy and delight in God through because it is by the Divine, unquenchable, unstoppable, inconceivable, unmeasurable power of God that we are guarded from our enemies’ attacks who are seeking to destroy that inheritance in Christ?  And that although we know we are partakers of the inheritance with Jesus Christ, one day all will see us for who we truly are, join-heirs with Jesus Christ as at the final salvation our spirit and body is manifestly revealed for all to see?  Have you considered that lately, though you are going through many kinds of trials, and are burdened with heaviness and despair–discouragement, internal trouble, external trouble, and pain?  Have you considered what you have in Jesus Christ, my Christian brother and sister?  If you have not considered that, then read I Peter 1:1-5 with fresh eyes.  See the wonders of what God has given us, his saints; then greatly rejoice knowing that the trial of your life is more precious than gold which will decay and be destroyed.  Because your trials, like gold, will burn for a while, but the burning is purifying your spirit and soul- so that all praise, and honor and glory will be heaped upon God when Jesus Christ appears to manifestly declare to all who we really are.   We have not seen Him, but we love him, we believe him, we rejoice with un-utterable joy and fullness of glory.  Because we will receive, full salvation of our souls when we see Him.  Let’s consider that!