END TIMES READING PLAN: Zechariah 12-14
SCRIPTURE READING
1 Peter 1:3 (NIV); 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
We have been given a living hope; not a dead hope, not a past hope, not even a future
hope. Our hope is alive. Of course future hope is part of that, but when we limit ourselves
to obtaining a “future hope” alone, we may well forget that we have hope in the here and
now. It is because of what Christ did on the cross that we have a living hope, and the hope
that we hold to is the ultimate goal of eternity with Him. The God of the Bible is not just the
God of the past. Hebrews says that “the Word of the Lord is living and active” because God
Himself is living and active.
The Israelites worshipped the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (the past) and looked
forward to a day when they would return to the Promised Land given to Abraham (the
future). However, when they left Egypt they were guided by God Himself – a cloud by day
and a pillar of fire by night. God was with them.
God is with us. He is our Living Hope who we can cling to at all times. When we read our
Bibles we are reading the words of a God who is with us in that very room; when we call
out to the Lord, we are speaking to One who is not far away; when we listen for the voice of
the Spirit, we are listening to the voice of One who is inside of us. What a wondrous gift that
the God of the universe is so near!
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) What does the Holy Spirit want to say to you through today’s reading? Spend some time
meditating on 1 Peter 1:3, thanking God for the amazing truth in these few words.
Ask God to speak to you about what it means for you to have a living hope.
2) Take time to read your Bible and journal now. Spend time in conversation with the One
who is alive and active within you. Invite His presence and open your heart to hear all He
has to say. Ask Him to grow you in intimacy and understanding in this time.
