He makes me his people and his priest.

Leviticus 5-7

And/or

Further up and further in: Exodus 19-20, Exodus 32-34

1 Peter 2:9-10 – But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Lord God, I was once on the outside looking in.  I was once not your people. I was once not loved your loved on.  I was once not yours.  But in your love for me, you chose me to be yours.  In mercy, you made me to be a royal priest in your house.  In care and concern, you made me your own and called me, along with all who believe in you, “the people of God.”  Lord God, you treasure me and hold me dear.  Help me to treasure this identity and stay close to you in it. You are telling me, through Peter, who I am to you.  Help me to live out this identity in my life today.  I am yours.  Lord, let your name be made holy by my words, actions.  Yes, let your name be hallowed through my whole life today.  Amen. v

He gives me identity and purpose.

Leviticus 1-4

And/or

Further up and further in: Genesis 6-8

1 Peter 2:5 – You yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Lord God, there are a lot of things that amaze me.  It amazes me that you even want me to be a stone in your spiritual house, especially since I keep on sinning even after I know better.  And yet, God, you still cleanse me by your Spirit and build me into your house, as a stone mason would. This amazes me!  But what astounds me just as much, sometimes even more is this: You want me to serve you and you love what I do in faith.  You love the way that I take care of my family.  You love the way that I serve at my church.  You love the way that I neighbor the people who live around me.  Whatever I do in faith, you love it and it smells good to you.  The sacrifice of my life smells good to you.  Help me, O God, to realize this awesome privilege and continue to offer up spiritual sacrifices, a life that pleases you.  Amen.

He is a stumbling stone.

Exodus 37-40

And/or

Further up and further in: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, 1 Corinthians 2, 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, Romans 9-11

1 Peter 2:7-8 – So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving, The stone the builders rejected – this one has become the cornerstone; and a stone to stumble over.  They stumble because they disobey the message; they were destined for this. 

Lord God, keep me from this.  You’re the only one who can.  I look back at the history of people who believed on you and so many of them turned from you and stumbled all over you.  The Jewish leaders in your day – they had the Bible, they had the prophets, but they stumbled all over you.  I see it in the Scriptures again and again.  Keep me from this.  I’m in your Word regularly.  I’m in church regularly.  Keep me from stumbling over you.  Keep me from a Christless Christianity, a Christianity that shows up for church but doesn’t really believe. By your Spirit, help me to build my faith on you so that I am not one of those who stands outside of heaving, wanting to be let in, but turned aside because you don’t know more.  Lord God, build me into your church and build my faith on your Son.  Keep me always believing in your Son so that I do not stumble on him, but instead always believe in him. 

He is a chosen and precious cornerstone.

Exodus 33-36

And/or

Further up and further in: Matthew 7:24-27, Ephesians 2:19-22, Hebrews 6.

1 Peter 2:6 – For it stands in Scripture: See I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.

Lord Jesus, you are the cornerstone of my salvation, my faith and my life.  If I base my life and my confidence on anything else, I am left shaking; I am afraid; I am stressed.  I’m foolish to do it.  I’m so foolish to base my confidence and my hope on anything else.  It will all let me down.  My accomplishments won’t last.  My works aren’t ever enough.  When I base my confidence on anything but you, I am always let down. You, Lord Jesus, are the only one who will never let me down.  Turn my heart and my faith to you alone.  Then, and in you alone, I will never be let down.  I will never be ashamed or embarrassed because you ore my Savior and my cornerstone.  Amen.

He is rejected by people but chosen by and precious to God.

Exodus 29-32

And/or

Further up and further in: Matthew 3, Matthew 17, Isaiah 49

1 Peter 2:4 – As you come to him, a living stone – rejected by people but chosen and honored by God…

Lord Jesus, there is such a range of reactions to you. There is no hot or cold.  You are either loved or hated.  People either hate you and push your salvation off the side because they want to do it themselves.  Or, people love you because you have done all the work of saving them.  And that’s why you’re so precious God.  In fact, that’s why God chose you and set you apart.  God chose you and set you apart to be the world’s Savior.  Keep me, O Jesus, from being indifferent and uncaring about your salvation.  Keep me from becoming lukewarm to you and your cross.  Keep me from a “meh” feeling about you.  You are precious to God and so your salvation is precious to me.  Warm my heart by your love to me that my faith and my life might be built on your work for me.  Amen.

Therefore, grow up!

Exodus 25-28

And/or

Further up and further in: Psalm 119, Isaiah 26:3-4, Ephesians 4:11-16

1 Peter 2:2 – Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that you may grow up in your salvation. 

Lord God, you never want to leave me in the same place in my walk of faith.  You take me just as I am, but you never leave me that way.  While my salvation is full and complete, my sanctification and walk of faith is incomplete and ongoing.  Give me the same craving, yearning and longing for the good food of your word that a new-born baby has.  When they’re hungry, they’re hungry and only food will quiet their rumbling stomach.  Give me the same craving and yearning that a newborn baby has so that every day, every week, every Sunday, I might long for the food of your word.  And by that Word, dear Lord, grow me in my faith just as you do with little children.  Grow me up and keep growing me up in my faith until my final breath.  Amen.

Therefore, clean yourself up.

Exodus 22-24

And/or

Further up and further in: Galatians 5:13-26, Ephesians 4:17-22, Colossians 3:1-17

1 Peter 2:1 – Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and all slander.

Lord God, when you came in to my life, you were ruthless in your clean-up efforts. In fact, you utterly killed and destroyed the old me and by the power of your Word raised up a brand new me, holy and clean. This wasn’t just a house refurb project, this was a total rebuild from the foundation up.  You were utterly ruthless in getting rid of sin in me; you got rid of it all, forgiving me wholly and completely.  Lord God, give me the same zeal and ruthlessness in my life to thoroughly root out of my life all kinds of sin.  It’s too easy for me to become complacent and even blind to sins in my life.  Get rid of this complacency in my heart and life and make me zealous to thoroughly root out out sin and live for you.  Amen.

Enduring Word

Exodus 19-21

And/or

Further up and further in: Romans 1:16, Isaiah 55, Hebrews 4

1 Peter 1:24-25 – For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like a flower of the grass.  The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever.

Lord God, when I was first born into this world, I was born to die.  From the moment I first took a breath, I was on my way to the grave.  From a buggy with wheels to a wheel chair, that’s the trajectory of my life. I’m just like a flower, God, here today and tomorrow thrown into the fire.  But God, when your Word entered my life, everything changed.  Your Word breathed new life into my soul.  Your Word, which endures forever and never fades away gave me new life and now I am eternal.  Now, I will live forever because your Word has given me its eternal character.  Now, I will endure forever in heaven with you because your Word has given me this life.  Thank you, God, for sending your Word into my life that I might be yours forever.  Amen.

Powerful Resurrection

Exodus 14-18

And/or

Further up and further in: Titus 2:11 – 3:15, John 3, Ezekiel 11:14-21, Ezekiel 37:1-14

1 Peter 1:23 – Because you have been born again – not of perishable seed but of imperishable – through the living and eternal word of God.

Lord Jesus, I should be different in this world.  I should stand out in this world of lovelessness.  I should stand out in this world of selfishness.  Without me even saying a word people should know that I’m yours and you’re mine.  But do they?  Can they see that I’m different?  Do I stand out in this world?  Sadly, they often can’t tell that I’m yours. In fact, when I tell them they might even be surprised because of the way that I talk and the way that I act.  Lord Jesus, forgive me.  Remind me that I have been born again of the imperishable seed of God’s Word.  I am different.  My rebirth by your Word makes me different.  Forgive me and help me to stand out as a light in this dark world.  Amen.

Prevailing Love

Exodus 10—13

And/or

Further up and further in: John 13, John 15, 1 Corinthians 13

1 Peter 1:22 – Since you purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love to each other, from a pure heart, love one another constantly.

Lord God, we live in a world that doesn’t know how to love, not purely, not selflessly.  And I’m not much different.  We love other people because of what we get from them.  We love other people because of the way that this relationship benefits us.  When it doesn’t benefit us in some way, the relationship often quickly dissolves because it doesn’t serve my ends or my goals anymore.  Lord God, if this was the way pure love was, would you love me?  What in the world do you get out of me and out of a relationship with me?  If I’m honest, Lord God, you get nothing from me but sin and rebellion.  Lord God, but you love me anyway and have purified me by your Son Jesus.  Give me a heart of selfless, pure love for the people around me.  Make me selfless in my love.  Make my love for them enduring and never ending.  By your love, inspire me to love them even when and especially when I get no love in return. This is how you loved me. Teach me to love you the same. Amen.

Prevailing Hope

Exodus 5-9

And/or

Further up and further in: Psalm 61, Ephesians 3-4

1 Peter 1:21 – Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Lord God, the power and glory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead gives me such hope for my future, such hope for my life, such hope for my eternity.  Your resurrection, Lord Jesus, assures me that you have finished the work of salvation and have secured for me the forgiveness of sins.  Your resurrection, Lord Jesus, shows me that you have conquered death and have overcome every enemy of mine.  Your power, O God, which is so evident when I see you raise your Son from the dead raises up hope in me that there is nothing beyond your control.  You are on my side!  No thing can separate me from you.  Let the hope that springs from your resurrection, Lord Jesus, inspire me this week as I work for you.  Amen.

Great Redeemer.

Exodus 1-4

And/or

Further up and further in: Colossians 1-4

1 Peter 1:20 – He was foreknown before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for you.

Lord God, I continue to marvel at my Redeemer, my Savior, and your plan.  You knew that he would be the world’s Savior before the creation of the world.  You hid in him your quiver until just the right time.  By his life and by the preaching of the apostles you made him known to the world.  Through your Word and through preachers and teachers today you have even made him known to me.  He is great and your plan is great.  O God, my heart stands in awe my redemption, at my Redeemer, and your plan that made it all happen.  O God, you are truly great.  Amen.

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.