What Can I Thank God For?

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Scripture:


1Pet. 1:3   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.


Observation:


After the opening greeting, Peter jumps into thanksgiving. Throughout his letter we find Trinitarian language, and he begins with praise to God, who is the Father of Jesus Christ. Peter and John’s language is more often about new birth, rather than the adoption language that Paul prefers. Therefore, he speaks of the mercy that has been bestowed upon us through new birth. This new birth provides living hope for each day, which comes through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 


Gratitude continues with the promise of an inheritance for those who have been born again. This inheritance is held for us in heaven while we live here on this earth. We give praise because our lives may be protected, day by day, by the power of God. It is God who gives us the ability to live in faith, awaiting a salvation that will come in the last days. 


Application:


If we were to pen a letter to our friends today, would we include a section of thanksgiving? We continue to live in this season of COVID, and sometimes we wonder whether it will ever end. I’ve noticed that some people have chosen to live with a season of thanksgiving, even posting their list of gratitude daily on social media. 


This list of gratitude by Peter is impressive because gets to the core issues of faith, for which he is grateful! For persons who had to leave their homes and resettle in new locations because of their faith, this would be comforting. God, in great mercy, continues to give us these great promises, for which we can be grateful. We, too, are being protected by God’s power through faith. While we continue on this COVID journey, we live day by day in faith, trusting in God’s guidance and direction for our lives. God gives us the strength to live by faith, even when things don’t look like they’re going our way. 


The faith that God, through mercy, gives us is for the long journey — even longer than the season of COVID. For this I can be thankful. For new birth into God’s family, I am thankful. I join with Peter today in a heart filled with thanksgiving for the mercy of God that carries us through this life and into all of eternity. 


 Prayer:


Lord, thank you for new life that carries us through this life. Amen. 

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