Today we pick up at verse 3 in chapter 1 of 1 Peter:
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, Quite a sentence in these verses - I'll comment on half today and half tomorrow We are a people of new birth. Within the world we walk and within the times of trouble and joy, we are a people of new birth. Now, anyone can say that in some way or shape. It does not take a 'religious' story to bring about a new birth. In 1 Peter, we will see what the meaning and shape and purpose of this new birth is to be. It will be a birth into life that comes out of the resurrection of Jesus. It will be a life that is affirmed by the resurrection. Maybe we could say out of the resurrection comes a life of insurrection. Our hope is shaped by the victory of the cross. Our hope is in a new birth that does not take on the shape of the world. It will not be violent. It will not be a life that persecutes or belittles or oppresses or scapegoats. Rather it will be a life that our God raises up so that the world - in all of its brokenness - will see the contrast between the way of the world and the way of the victory of God that is the good news. The good news that becomes the content of our new birth is a life that displays the blessing of our God - from the beginning of all things. In the face of any and every evil or power we are born again into a life that does not take its lead from nor does it own anything to the powers of the day that so easily claim us and rob us of life. Connection: A number of people end a conversation with "have a blessed day." I like to hear it as a word of remembrance. The day is blessed already and so is my life. The reminder is to go for it. I don't know if that is what people intend when they say this. The reminder that we are beloved is the blessing. It has the power - in the mere speaking of the word - to take hold of life and make it new. I know, there are many things that keep us going in old ways and messing with old stuff, but by God's great mercy - there is a whole new life awaiting us. So we hope again and again. That is, we step out into this day as though the promise of being blessed by God - is really for us - By God. In the middle of what is so common, O God, continue to tap us on the shoulders and disturb our day with the reminder that all the day is blessed as we walk as your children - born into your hopefulness. Amen. |
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