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Soul Anchors

Living with Great Expectation in 2023

At the start of the new year, many of us may make plans based on our expectations of how the year will turn out. However, by the end of the year, we experience disappointment when we fail to realise our plans, as a result of unmet expectations. This is where aligning our expectations with the heart of God will make a difference, because He will not disappoint us. Peter reminds us why we can live boldly with great expectation as disciples of Christ.

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
So be truly glad. 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. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.”
– 1 Peter 1:3-9, NLT (emphasis added)
1) We have a priceless inheritance. Our salvation in Christ is our priceless inheritance, and it is secured, guaranteed, and incorruptible. Unlike earthly promises that can be broken or expectations that can fail, this priceless inheritance assures and empowers us to live with certainty of His second coming. Our spiritual inheritance in Christ (cf. Ephesians 1:3-14) is a reminder to make plans with an eternal perspective in mind as we hold on to this “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13, NIV).
2) We have a proven faith. God will continue to prove and test our faith through trials so that it is refined to become more precious than gold. The refining process involves discomfort and pain, but it will result in praise and glory to our God as we draw strength from Him to get through it. May the knowledge that God has a purpose for the trials in our lives give us the courage to trust Him for comfort and deliverance.
3) We have prodigious joy. This joy is supernatural and not based on circumstances. Peter had written his letter to encourage the early Christians who were undergoing various trials. As they trusted and believed in God amidst their trials, He filled them with “an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1: 8b, NIV). Likewise, this inexhaustible supply of joy fortifies us to face trials of our own.

As we enter this new year, let us face our hopes and apprehensions by clinging on to the promises of God’s Word. Let us allow our lives to be marked by great expectations of the One who guarantees our priceless inheritance, strengthens our precious faith through trials and testing, and fills us with prodigious joy—to the praise of His glory.

Grace and peace,
Lam Kok Hiang
Leadership Mentor

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