The Lighthouse Devotional
Author: Patricia Saul
SCRIPTURE VERSE
“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” (1 Pet 1:3 NIV).
PERSONAL REFLECTION
The verse begins with an utterance of praise to the God and Father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. How often do we find ourselves lavishing our praise on others but reserving only minimal praise, if any at all, for our Creator? Praise shows appreciation to God for all that He has done for us. Indeed, God inhabits the praises of His people (Ps. 22:3).
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Lest we are unclear as to why we should praise the Lord, Peter reminds us that it is through God’s mercy that we have been born again. God, in His loving wisdom, recognized that the blood of bulls and lambs was no longer efficacious to atone for the sins of humankind; hence, He sent His Son to be the sacrificial lamb, the “scapegoat” (cf. Lev 16:6–10), if you will, for us all. We did nothing good to merit such a sacrifice. One songwriter declares, “If that is not love, the ocean is dry; there are no stars in the sky, and the sparrow can’t fly.”
But there is more. Peter says that this new birth gives us an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The word “through” here is pivotal. It suggests that we are born into this living hope through the resurrection of Christ. Furthermore, Peter implies that there would be no such hope without Christ’s resurrection. Paul agrees, noting that “if we have been united with [Christ] in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Rom 6:5). This hope, which is reserved for us in heaven as “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” (1 Pet 1:4), undoubtedly gives us something to which we can look forward.
EXHORTATION
So, Christians have a living hope that shines brightly amidst the turmoil, evil, sadness, despair, and destruction in this world. This hope is firmly anchored in the grace and mercy of a loving God who gave His son to die so that we may live eternally. You can depend on this living hope because God is faithful and keeps his promises to us.
PRAYER
Our God and our Father, we bless You because You are holy, righteous, loving, merciful, and unchanging. We thank You for the tremendous investment You have made in our lives. Help us to be faithful until our hope is finally fulfilled in heaven. In Jesus’ name, we pray with thanksgiving, Amen.