“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the ressurection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:3).
This long sentence means: “All praise to God … It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation” (1 Peter 1:3 NLT). Several letters in the New Testament begin with similar praise to God. How powerful it is when believers greet each other in this way. The Christians to whom Peter wrote his letter were facing persecution and suffering. This put their faith to the test. Peter reminded these believers of the power of God’s blessing. This power would sustain them in their lives. God will never take away what Jesus has done for us. Let us remind each other of this truth when we face rejection because of our faith in Jesus. With these words we can also bless God, thanking Him for His great love. By reminding each other of this blessing of love it helps us to keep our trust in God, no matter our circumstances.
Do you have the courage to begin a message to someone with words of praise to God? What words would you use?