Great Redemption

Job 40:6 – 42, Psalm 29

And/or

Further up and further in: Luke 1-2, John 1, Hebrews 1

1 Peter 1:18-19 – For you know you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.

Lord Jesus, what a price you paid!  When God demanded blood for my failure to obey him, you shed all your blood.  When God demanded payment for the sins of all people, dear Son of God, you gave your life.  You are truly God and fully man.  And you, dear God-man, you stepped into the scales of justice to make the greatest payment that has ever been paid. The redemption price for me and for all the world was the holy, innocent and divine blood of Jesus!  What a price you paid for me, dear Jesus!  Thank you.  Amen.

Therefore...conduct yourselves with fear.

Job 37-40:1-5, Psalm 19

And/or

Further up and further in: Luke 12:4-5, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Matthew 10:28, Leviticus 19

1 Peter 1:17 – If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct your lives in reverence during your time living as strangers.

Lord God, I don’t often take you seriously enough.  I don’t often take your commands and your direction for my conduct with all the seriousness that you demand.  There are some commands that I take into my heart and honor with all my heart. But there are others that I put off to the side. Thinking back, I find that the ones that condemn other people I take to heart because then I catch them in their sin, but the ones that catch me in my sin I don’t take seriously enough.  Lord God, you don’t play like that. You don’t play favorites.  You judge each one of us impartially according to the life each one of us lives. You judge us only by the same standard and the same commands.  Forgive me, Father, for not listening carefully to all that you’ve told me.  Forgive me and help me to take all of your word into my heart and to work at doing it.  Amen.

Therefore, we should fear his anger and not disobey what he commands. – Martin Luther.

Therefore...be holy.

Job 33-36

And/or

Further up and further in: 2 Corinthians 4:1 – 7:1; Hebrews 10

1 Peter 1:15-16 - But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

Lord God, you have called me to this new life.  You have made me holy by the blood of your Son, Jesus.  You have dressed me in the finest clothes.  And yet, like a child wearing their Sunday best who goes to play in the muck and dirt, my mind, my thoughts, and my life gravitates toward the dirty and the sinful.  I find myself dirty in sin!  Lord Jesus, help me to remember who I am as your holy child, who is dearly loved.  Help me to keep my life, my thoughts, my words, yes, help me to keep myself clean. You, Lord God, are holy and you have called me to be holy in my whole life.  Help me to do this, dear Father in heaven.  Amen.

Therefore...don't be conformed.

Job 29-32

And/or

Further up and further in: Romans 6-8, Romans 12:1-2

1 Peter 1:14 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance.

Lord God, as I live my life in this world it is so easy to get caught up in the way that the world lives.  It is so much easier to go with the stream than to swim against it.  The world says that sinful behaviors are acceptable and I quickly fall into thinking that they are.  My community says that sinful ways of thinking are normal and I start to think that way.  The world lures me and wants to press me into their way of thinking, their way of feeling, and their way of living.  My own sinful flesh wants to conform me and press me into it’s way of thinking.  Everything is against me.   It is so easy to sit back and not fight.  It is so easy to go with the flow.  Lord God, you redeemed me from this life. You called me to be yours. You made me to stand out in this world, simply because I am your child and your heir.  Help me to fight against all that would conform me.  Rather, Lord God, transform me daily to have your thoughts, your feelings, and to live your way.  Daily, Lord Jesus, transform me into your likeness.  Amen. 

Therefore...set your hope.

God’s Word is always so practical.  It always hits home.  Sometimes, God’s Word and the truths of it hit home in our hearts and give us consolation and peace.  At other times, God’s Word and his truths hit home in our lives and guide our feet.  Either way, there are always conclusions to be drawn from the precious promises and enduring truths of God’s Word.  This week, Peter helps us draw some of these conclusions. 

Therefore… set your hope.

Job 25-28

And/or

Further up and Further in: Psalm 42, Psalm 62-63, Psalm 73

1 Peter 1:13 – Therefore, with your minds ready for action…set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

O God, some days it feels like I’m reeling from things that have happened. Some days I feel like a boxer on the ropes who is just trying to get through.  I’m just taking hits.  I’m just trying to keep on keeping on.  But Lord God, you are big!  You are bigger than all the things that I face.  You are in charge of all the challenges that face me. It may seem that my life has been thrown up into the air, but God, you are holding all of the pieces together.  You are bigger than all of my problems. You are bigger than all of the things coming after me.  Lord God, help me to put you, your promises, your promises under the microscope.  Lord God, be magnified before my heart and mind so that I live my life overflowing with hope and confidence.  I am a boxer not on the ropes, but on the attack, living my life under your watchful care and loving gaze.  Amen.

Therefore...

Job 22-24

And/or

Further up and Further in: Colossians 3-4, Ephesians 5-6.

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Holy Spirit, your Word is so practical.  It’s never just words on a page that I’m meant to know intellectually, like my math facts, figures and formulas.  It’s never just useless knowledge.  There is always a “therefore.”  There is always a very practical application of the truths that your Word unveils for me.  The promises and the truths that your Spirit has unveiled give me such hope and excitement for my future life on this earth and an even greater anticipation for the glories that you have stored up in heaven for me.  More than that, with my heart filled with hope, these truths and promises give me a boldness and confidence to live my life for you.  Lord, continue to strengthen and embolden my spirit that I may live for you.  Continue to compel and move me by these truths to spend myself for you.  Amen.

Even the Angels Search it Out

Job 18-21

And/or

Further up and Further in: Hebrews 1:5-14, Psalm 91

1 Peter 1:12 These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.

Lord God, I am so thankful for your angels.  I can hardly believe how much you care for me and about me.  You, God, sit on your throne in heaven and you watch over, guide, and even direct my footsteps.  You make the place where I set my feet secure.  And, as if that were not enough, you assign angels to me.  You give directions and commands to your angels that they would serve me, support me, and help me in my walk of faith toward. God, you are so interested in my salvation that you serve me and support me every step of the way.  Your angels were so interested and excited about my salvation that they were peering into the Scriptures, trying to understand what the prophets were talking about. The angels you charge to watch over me are as interested in my salvation, God, as you are!  Thank you, Lord God, for your angels who serve me and support me on my way toward my heavenly home. Amen.

For You!!

Job 14-17

And/or

Further up and Further in: Galatians 4:1-7

1 Peter 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you.

Lord Jesus, these two little words comfort me so much: “for you.” In fact, these two little words overwhelm me when I think about the magnitude of what they mean and say.  The prophets preached and wrote.  But those words about Jesus, those words that tell of his sufferings and his glory, were actually for me!  That means that all 39 books of the Old Testament are FOR ME.  The prophets were preaching FOR ME.  The prophets were writing FOR ME!  And it’s not just them.  Jesus came for ME too.  Though I know my sin and though he knows my sin, he came FOR ME to rescue me from it.  Though I am just one among many people over many millennia, Jesus, you had me in our mind and you can FOR ME and took my place on the cross.  You suffered hell FOR ME.  You reign in heaven FOR ME.  Your eyes, Lord Jesus, are on the sparrow.  You know every hair of my head.  You know me and you care about me.  Oh, Lord Jesus, how precious to me are your thoughts.  Amen.

Everything Was Foretold.

Job 10-13

And/or

Further up and Further in: Isaiah 49:1-26, Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12, Isaiah 61

1 Peter 1:11 They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

Lord Jesus, the whole Old Testament tells the story of your plan and the carrying out of that plan.  It points us to Jesus, to his sufferings and to his glory, like a bright and flashing neon sign would.  It tells the story of your suffering, all of it.    It also tells me of your ultimate victory and glory, even of your resurrection of the dead.  When the prophets preached these sermons, they didn’t get it.  But I do!  I see you, Jesus!  I see that you are the Servant whom Isaiah talked about.  I see that you are the one who would suffer just like David said.  I see that you are the one who does reign triumphantly.  I see you, Jesus, that you are the One about whom all the Scriptures spoke.  Lord Jesus, pour out your Spirit on me that I may continue to believe in you all the days of my life.  Amen.

Searching it Out

Job 6-9

And/or

Further up and Further in: John 5:31-47, Luke 24:36-49, Matthew 1-4

1 Peter 1:10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated.

Lord God, these prophets were so careful about the words that they preached, the message that the heard.  They searched it carefully.  They worked hard to understand exactly what their message was about.  Lord God, your Word is such a treasure trove of instruction for my soul.  It teaches me how to direct my life.  It guides my thinking and even my feeling.  Your Word touches every moment of my days here on earth.  Help me to treat like the prophets did.  Help me to diligently dig in.  Help me to see it as the treasure that it is for me, for my salvation, and for my life.  There is nothing like it.  Amen.

The Story of Salvation

Job 1-5

And/or

Further up and further in: Ezekiel 33:1-16; 2 Peter 3

1 Peter 1:8-9 - You rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Lord Jesus Christ, when you came to this earth you were concerned with one thing. When you lived on this earth, you wanted one thing.  When you walked to the cross and put your shoulder to it, you did it with one purpose in mind.  All that you did, you did it for me.  You saw my soul and my life hanging in the balance and you gave up yours for mine. You saw my face and the sin of mine that would have damned me to hell, and you suffered hell for me.  Fill me with a boundless joy to know that everything you did during your life and everything you’re doing during my life is so that you can save me.  I also pray, Lord Jesus, do whatever it takes so that I might spend an eternity with you in heaven.  Save me, Lord Jesus, for I am yours, redeemed by your blood.

Praise God for inexpressible joy.

Genesis 47-50

And/or

Further up and further in: Psalm 97-99, Isaiah 43:1-3

Verse: 1 Peter 1:8-9 – Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Prayer: Lord God, as I look at my life and learn to view my suffering in the light of your Fatherly care, I am filled with joy because all of this means that you are on the move!  It means that you are active and not passive.  It means that you are working and not resting.  It means that you are on the move to save me.  It means, that as each day passes, I am always one day closer to the goal of my faith, my salvation.  And – God be praised – I’m still in the faith. You have brought me safely in the faith to this very day.  I pray, keep in the faith, keep me a float.  Keep the waters from coming over my head.  And when they rise, lift up above those waters so that I am not washed away in the flood.  Amen.

Joy is a spiritual buoyancy that comes when we are rejoicing in God. The waters are rising but I am not sinking. – Tim Keller.

Praise God for trials.

Genesis 44-46

And/or

Further up and further in: James 1:2-4, Hebrews 1:1-13, Romans 5:1-5

Verse: 1 Peter 1:6-7 – You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith – more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire – may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. CSB

Prayer: Lord God, it is so hard to see the good in pain.  It is so hard to understand how I can praise you for pain.  It is so difficult to grasp how hurting is beneficial.  I can see it in other things.  I can see it in the extreme pressure that turns coal into diamonds.  I can see it when gold is smelted in the furnace.  But when I’m the one in the smelting furnace being refined by you, it is much harder to sing. It’s hard to sing when you’re hurting!  Lord God, help me to see – even when I don’t fully understand what you’re doing, even when I don’t know what good you intend to give – that you are doing good things for me and my salvation.  Help me to trust your Father’s heart and your all-knowing, wise plan for me.  Help to find a simple joy in my trials, my pain, and my hardships because it means you love me.  Help me to praise you for the pain because it means that you’re smelting me, disciplining me for my good and for my eternity.  Father, I know you love me. Help me to praise you for your Father’s care, even when it hurts.  Amen.

Praise God for ready salvation.

Genesis 41-43

And/or

Further up and further in: Romans 8:19-21, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, Revelation 20-21

Verse: 1 Peter 1:5 – You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. CSB

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I can’t wait.  I’m sitting here in faith waiting for you to pull back the veil, to tear apart the heavens again.  I’m waiting for you to tear the heavens apart and to sound the final trumpet when you will come in glory with your angels to bring me home at last. I’m waiting here, on the edge of my seat, waiting with hope-filled expectation for you to come and create the new heavens and the new earth, my eternal home.  I waiting for creation to be restored to paradise instead of this desolate wilderness that it now is.  I can’t wait for you to do this.  Lord Jesus, keep me in the faith until that day.  Keep me from losing hope in this salvation that is about to happen. Keep me from growing discouraged and hopeless in these last days.  Fill my heart with longing, yearning and excitement as I wait for you to reveal and to give me eternal salvation from the suffering of this earth. Fill my heart with exceeding joy as I wait for my  faith to be turned to sight. Amen.

Praise God for shielding me.

Genesis 38-40

And/or

Further up and further in: Psalm 42, Psalm 46, Psalm 100, Psalm 102, Psalm 121

Verse: 1 Peter 1:5 – You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for guarding me with your great power.  The assaults of the Devil against my soul are far beyond my ability to resist.  If you left me alone for a moment, I would fall.  The attacks of my own nature against me are more than I can handle.  The thoughts of my own mind lead me to think that you have abandoned me, that you are against me and not for me.  Don’t leave me alone, Lord, or I won’t make it.  Don’t abandon me, Lord, or I’ll stumble and fall.  You have ascended to your throne Jesus and you sit there ruling all things in my life for my good.  Deliver me from evil. Shield and guard me by your mighty power that I might be safe in the grasp of your love.  Keep me safe from all the attempts on my life and soul.  With you, I am safe. Under your care, I am protected.  With your guarding, I will make it safely to the end of faith’s race.  Thank you for guarding me with your power.  Amen.

Praise God for an imperishable inheritance.

Genesis 34-37

And/or

Further up and further in: Matthew 6:19-21, Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 19:16-30

Verse: 1 Peter 1:3-4 – 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, undefined, and unfailing, kept in heaven for you.

Prayer: Lord God, so much of my life is spent chasing after the wind and I don’t even know it.  I chase a meal and just a few hours later I need another one.  I chase a paycheck and in just a moment every dollar is spoken for.  I chase treasures and they decay.  I put something aside and someone ruins it or steals it.  It is a chasing after the wind.  I try to hold these treasures and in a moment, for one reason or another, they’re gone.  But God, the treasure that you’ve given me in your Son and the inheritance stored up for me in heaven isn’t like that.  It isn’t a chasing after the wind.  In fact, it’s not even a chasing!  You’ve already given it to me. You’ve already promised it to me as a free gift. Heaven and its inheritance is already stored up and kept for me by your might and power.  Lord God, help me to treasure your heavenly gifts most of all.  They are the one and only thing that will not perish and will never slip through my fingers.  Grant me faith to hold tightly to these treasures and to let go of every earthly treasure.  Amen.

Praise God for new birth.

1/15/18

The Christian life is hard.  That much is already clear as we have begun our walk through 1 Peter.  He’s writing to a group of people who have been exiled and driven from their homes.  It’s hard to praise God in the storm.  It’s hard to see what God is doing when it’s raining outside, when the waves are crashing over the side of the boat, when waves are driving us below the surface of the water.  In this section of Peter that we’ll cover this week, Peter leads us in a overflowing song of praise God for his eternal work in our life.  We’ll praise God for his work in our life from the very infancy of our faith, even from the very infancy of our lives.  We’ll praise God for his work in our life through the trials that refine our faith.  We’ll even learn to rebound with inexpressible joy because all this means that we’re about to see and receive that salvation of our souls. Soon – yes, very soon – we will be receiving the goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+30-33&version=NIV

And/or

Further up and further in: John 3, Romans 6, Ephesians 5, Galatians 3:26-27

Verse: 1 Peter 1:3 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Because in his great mercy he has given us new birth. CSB

Prayer: Dear Lord God, my baptism is such a gift to me.  It did for me and for my soul what nothing else could ever do for me.  It raised me from the depths of spiritual death and raised me up for a new life.  Instead of grave clothes and filthy rags, my baptism clothes me in Christ.  Most and best of all, my baptism brings me into your family so that now I get to call you, God, my dear Father in heaven.  Father, hear my prayer today.  Whatever this day brings, whatever hardship, trouble, or challenge or joy, lead me to praise you for this new birth that you’ve given me.  My baptism is one of your greatest gifts to me.  Lead me to praise you for this new birth whatever today brings.  Amen.

I am safe.

Genesis 27-29, Psalm 3

And/or

Further up and further in: 1 John 2:15-16, John 10:27-30, John 17:13-18, Romans 8:31-39

Verse: John 10:28-29 – I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.  No one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all.  No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

Prayer: Dear Savior, there are many times in my life when I don’t feel safe.  I’m afraid of the danger that threatens me.  I’m afraid of the unknown and the uncertainties of my future.  Sometimes I’m even afraid that I’ll lose you as my Savior and my Friend.  Sometimes I’m even afraid that you’ve left me.  These are the most comforting words.  You choose me to be your own.  You called me to be your child.  You are at work in my life to make me holy by your Son.  All my footsteps were known to you.  That means that no path of my life is ever outside of your care.  And no matter where I may be scattered by the winds of life, you will go with me there.  And even there you will keep me safe.  No one and no thing can separate me from you. You hold me by my right hand and after all this you will take me into glory. And the best news of all – you won’t ever let me go. Amen.

I am in need of more.

Genesis 24-26, Psalm 2

And/or

Further up and further in: Lamentations 3:22-27, Ephesians 1:3-9, Romans 5:18-21, Psalm 130

Verse: Lamentations 3:26 – It is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD. CSB

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I need you and I’m waiting on you.  I need more grace.  I really do.  I daily sin much.  I need your forgiveness as much today as I have ever needed it, maybe even more because I am more aware than ever of my sins against you.  I need your mercy.  I need you, Lord, to look at my helpless situation and help me.  Here I am a scattered exile in this world, an alien outside of his home country.  I’m living against the stream.  My way of life runs contrary to much of the rest of the people with whom I interact on a daily basis.  Help me live upstream.  Give me strength.  Give me wisdom.  When I seem to be all alone, remind me that you are with me and you are the only One for whom I’m living my life.  Lord, I’m waiting for you like a watchman waits for the morning.  I can’t wait for the morning of your new grace and mercy to dawn in my life. Lord, keep my eyes open, my faith burning, and my resolution strong as I wait for your to act and pour out more of all that you have for me in your grace and mercy.  Amen.

I am a scattered exile.

Genesis 20-23, Psalm 2

And/or

Further up and Further in: 1 Peter 1:1-2, 1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 11:8-40

Verse: 1 Peter 2:11 – Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires which wage war against your soul. CSB

Prayer: Lord Jesus, it’s really hard not to fit in.  It’s hard not to belong.  And I don’t think I really understand how real the struggle is.  I’ve never been the outsider.  I’ve hardly ever been in the minority.  I’ve never been an alien in a strange new country, a refugee forced to flee from my home.  But, Jesus, that’s what it is to be a Christian.  It means that I am a stranger here because heaven is my home.  It means that my values are radically different than the values of the world.  It means that my priorities in life are radically different than everyone else.  Lord God, help to fight against being normal.  Help me to resist fitting in.  Lead me to live as your child, an alien and a stranger in this world.  Amen.