Scripture Text: 1 Peter 1:17-23
He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
1 Peter 1:20-21
Apostle Peter desired Christians to possess a faith and life guided by God's Holy Standards through His words and by Grace. Peter allowed us to see that it is only by God's transformative powers of the Gospel through the Holy Spirit that we can be truly free from sin and holy in front of God's eyes, a possibility made real through the greatest sacrifice of all time.
We have a Father that is impartial and just, but an exact balance of grace and mercy. He knows all our sins and how evil our hearts are, yet, He ransomed us with the most precious blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. He willingly gave His Son to pay for the penalty of our sins, so we can be justified and reconciled with the Holy and Everlasting Father. We are to approach Him with fear and reverence as we know that He saw who we were and He sees who we are.
God didn't merely save us; He ensured that we have the privilege to be part of His Divine plan for men. Yes, we do not deserve any of these, knowing all of the sins that we've made. However, His immense love and merciful heart wanted us to participate in this glorious plan of redemption. We are meant to live according to His will, purified by the word of God, sincerely loving our fellow brothers in Christ, and spreading the Gospel to all nations. This will result in a genuine and earnest love flowing from a heart transformed by God's Word.
This passage reminds us to live in awe of our Father and to extend His love to others. Let us walk in the reverence of God's character and the sacrificial love of Christ, allowing His transformative power to shape our lives and relationships. May we continually strive to embody the truths found in these verses, allowing our faith to propel us toward a life marked by reverence, love, and hope.
Reflect
Do we still remember that the most precious life was sacrificed for us, and that this sacrifice gave us new hope and a new self, or are we too attached to this world, that even this truth does not have an effect on us anymore?
Remember
Be reminded of who we were during our time in the wilderness and look at ourselves now that Christ has redeemed us. Yes, none of us deserve this. We deserve death and eternal punishment, but He loved us and wanted us to be part of His plan.
Read
Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:22-24; Hebrews 12:28-29
Pray
I come before Your throne of grace, merciful Father, with a heart full of gratitude for Your impartial judgment and unconditional love. Thank You for the priceless redemption through the sacrifice of Christ. Please, anchor my faith and love in Your eternal plan. Transform me through Your Word, guiding me to love sincerely. All of this I pray in Your Name. Amen.
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