[All our blessings are because of God’s mercy, not because of man’s worth, but because of regeneration. He hath begotten us, and this deserves our thanksgiving to God, especially IF WE CONSIDER THE FRUIT IT PRODUCES IN US, which is the excellent grace of hope, not a vain, dead, perishing hope as the world offers, but A LIVELY HOPE, A LIVING, STRONG, QUICKENING, AND DURABLE HOPE, a hope that has such a solid foundation as THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD.]
“Praise [honored, blessed] be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! IN HIS GREAT MERCY, he has given us new birth into A LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and [we are born anew] into an inheritance THAT CAN NEVER PERISH, spoil or fade [it is imperishable]. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith ARE SHIELDED BY GOD’S POWER until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)
[Several years ago, we pastored the Darrington Church (in the state of Washington), a very precious young woman gave her heart to the Lord and was wonderfully born again. She wanted her husband to be saved so we began a prayer vigil for him and things began to get worse before those prayers were answered. When my wife and I would visit their home, he would sit across from me and as he smoked a cigarette he would blow the smoke in my face and wait for a reaction. The Lord helped us to be kind in spite of several rude remarks and after several weeks the Lord marvelously saved him. He began to attend church but would not participate in our Sunday school class because as we discovered later, he had never learned to read. He began to seek the Lord to teach him to read the bible and soon he was reading and commenting in class. Later he became a Deacon and a great asset to our local church.]
“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, SET YOUR HOPE ON THE GRACE TO BE BROUGHT TO YOU WHEN JESUS CHRIST IS REVEALED AT HIS COMING. As obedient children, DO NOT CONFORM TO THE EVIL DESIRES YOU HAD WHEN YOU LIVED IN IGNORANCE. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “BE HOLY, BECAUSE I AM HOLY.” (1 Peter 1:13-16)
[Is there anything too hard for the Lord to accomplish?]
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jer. 32:27)
Be blessed as you praise The Lord, knowing:
THAT WE ARE [or should be] HOLY, BECAUSE HE IS HOLY!
-Bill Stockham