S) "18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ."
1 Peter 1:18-19 (NASB)
O) Peter is reminding his readers throughout this chapter, to have a broader view of our relationships with God. When he gets to the verses above, he reminds us that our salvation, our redemption, was not done with something so temporal, so basic, as money. As I am also reading through the various kings of Judah and Israel recently, nothing highlights the futility of wealth, and the temporary or arbitrary value of silver and gold, quite like reading through those books does. From almost the beginning, we had a kingdom so wealthy that silver was too common to be valued. Eventually, though, we had evil kings stripping the gold off of te articles of temple use, in order to appease threatening kingdoms. Then, invariably, a good King would eventually rise, and try to replace those holy temple articles with new gold ones, or smaller gold ones (like the shields), or new bronze ones when gold became too hard to get. It was a cycle that reveals just how temporary, and arbitrary, and useless wealth really is. However, as Peter reminds us, our redemption was paid with something infinitely more precious than that. Incomparably valuable, we are redeemed by the eternal blood of Jesus Christ. No one can steal it. It cannot be replaced. It is a payment for our guilt which can only be given, and can only be received, by God Himself.
A) what other response could I have, except utter humility. When everything else I could naturally value, pales in comparison to such a valuable payment. How much does God love me, that He redeemed me with such invaluable payment, as the blood of His only begotten Son. I cannot but worship Him, when I am made aware of such great love and sacrifice. I cannot but soberly, humbly, pledge my very life to Him in thanksgiving. My life, the entirety of it, is the only offering I have that is remotely of the same kind, as the offering He made for me. How can I think giving my money is a worthwhile response, when money doesn't even begin to compare to that which redeemed me? How can I think that my time should be enough, when the time Jesus gave is not what redeemed me? No, what redeemed me is the very life that Jesus gave, and it is only my life that I can give, that would be an appropriate response to such great love.
P) Father, Your love for me is beyond my scope. You are so full of grace and love, that it really is who You are, not just what You do. Thank You for this awesome love, Lord God. Thank You for the incomprable sacrifice, redemption, with the blood of Christ. Thank You that my salvation is built on nothing less than the eternal life of Jesus Christ. Help me to keep my mind on such a great love as You have for me. While I am focused on that, I am so full of love and gratitude, that obedience and submission to You feels like the literal least I can do. I confess that I lose this focus too often. I am too distracted by the petty and worthless things of this world, which pale in such feeble comparison to the riches of Christ. Please forgive me, and strengthen my resolve. Open my eyes and ears, that my relationship with You will be stronger today than it was yesterday. Be glorified in all that I do, by Your grace alone. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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