November 18, 2024 - 1 Peter 1

All that we have, in any good sense, is only because of our God.  This “good” includes the resurrection from the dead:   “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 resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1:3).  Peter continues his thought and reflects on  the living hope we have, the imperishable inheritance that is ours, God’s protections, etc.  And, think about this, that which we have was foretold by the prophets long before (1:10).  I find myself continuing to remember the words of Amos, here:  “’Be sure of this, the time is coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when the plowman will catch up to the reaper and the one who stomps the grapes will overtake the planter. Juice will run down the slopes, it will flow down all the hillsides.  I will bring back my people, Israel; they will rebuild the cities lying in rubble and settle down.  They will plant vineyards and drink the wine they produce; they will grow orchards and eat the fruit they produce.  I will plant them on their land and they will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them,’ says the Lord your God” (Amos 9:13-15).  Promises to Israel, yes, but fulfilled for us in so many ways.  Our God is good!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;

there is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;

as Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed Thy hand hath provided:

great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!   -- Thomas O. Chisholm (1923)