Read:
We’re no longer slaves to sin—we’re adopted into God’s family. A slave calls his master, “Sir.” We call God, “Father.” To call God “Father” shows a relationship based on love and kindness, completely different from slave and master. “Abba” is even more intimate than that; “Abba” is the Aramaic word for “Daddy.” What a beautiful transformation!
What does it mean to be a child of God? It means we can have a close, personal relationship with him—like a child running to his father for love, friendship, and help. We’re co-heirs with Jesus. Everything the Father has given to him—his glory, his riches, and all of creation—will be shared with us. This inheritance won’t tarnish over time or need to be fixed. Peter reminds us that it’s an inheritance that will never change or decay.
That’s for the future, when Jesus returns. In the meantime, there will be suffering and hardship. We all experience it, in different ways and to different degrees. But, “there is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine…when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." The Holy Spirit, living inside every believer, helps us through these hardships, and we can be confident that it will all work out for our good and for God’s glory.
No matter what we face, it won’t separate us from God’s love. Job loss, illness, broken relationships, ridicule for your faith, or struggling with that same sin over and over —none of it is stronger than God’s love for you. Stand firm in your faith, pray, and love God with your whole heart, and you’ll receive your glorious inheritance. This is the hope we cling to.
Pray: Dear God, this is hard. Sometimes I don’t know how I’ll get through it, but you have promised me that I have your strength in me, through the Holy Spirit living in me. I know your love is bigger and stronger than anything I face. Help me to rest in you. Amen.