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You do not seek the fight; the fight finds you. Meanwhile, you have COMPASSION on your ENEMIES and PRAY for your PERSECUTORS.

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You NEED hope, and the Triune God OFFERS that hope.

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According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… - 1 Peter 3

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IMPERISHABLE, UNDEFILED, and UNFADING.

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Real people, likely people they KNEW, were being PERSECUTED and even MARTYRED for their faith.

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Peter gives them encouragement to DIE for a Savior most of them have never SEEN.

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You are given hope that leads to an inexpressible JOY that can’t be taken from you no matter what CRUCIBLE you face.

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For next week, please read 1 Peter 1:13-25 (also Acts 2:14, 36-41 and John 7:37-39).