“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” (I Peter I:3-5 CSB)

Becoming a believer doesn’t mean we better start working hard at behaving ourselves or else God is not going to love us anymore.  It means we develop an abiding trust in the love and mercy of God.

The Apostle Peter gives us the key; it is through faith in Jesus by which we are given new birth into a living hope — a hope that dares to believe God’s promises are for real, and understands the One we hold onto is really the One who is holding onto us.  This is a hope that will not grieve the heart of God by failing to believe His love.