Scripture:  Read 1 Peter 1:3-5

3All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 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, 4and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

Observation:  Peter writes to the church the reason for our praise and worship of God through Jesus Christ:  We have been born again — given new life-  through His mercy toward us.  Just as Jesus was raised again from the dead, we now have had a spiritual transformation from death to life.

This changes the way we live.  We live with great expectation.  We have hope.  We have the promises of God.  We are living looking forward to God’s triumph in the end and even now we can trust that in this life — we now belong to God.

Application:  What am I looking forward to?  What am I trusting God for in my life because of the change that Jesus is brining.  I recently met a person who said they had absolutely nothing to look forward to.  As a follower of Jesus part of our challenge is to let our faith in Christ pull us forward in each day with some kind of “Great Expectation.”  Where will I see God working in my life and the lives around me?  With whom will I get to share the life of Jesus?

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for the new life I have in Jesus.  You have been merciful to me.  Even as I know my life is secure in you and for eternity, help me by your grace to look forward today with expectation of seeing and meeting you.  I expect now that my life will honor you.  Thank you for this grace.  You give me meaning for life!  Thank you!  In Jesus name, AMEN.