Daily Worship

The Word of Life Brings Hope

Norah Summers May 02, 2017 0 0

1 Peter 1: 17-23

17 You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him. 18 For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; 19 it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. 20 He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God.

22 Now that by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves and have come to have a sincere love for other believers, love one another earnestly with all your heart. 23 For through the living and eternal word of God you have been born again as the children of a parent who is immortal, not mortal.

“Your faith and hope are fixed on God” –

 

Because we have heard the story,

our faith and hope are fixed on God.

 

Because the Word has been passed down to us,

by the great cloud of witnesses,

our faith and hope are fixed on God.

 

Because God so loved the world,

our faith and hope are fixed on God.

 

Because Jesus died and rose again,

our faith and hope are fixed on God.

 

Because we are born again 

through the living and eternal Word of God,

our faith and hope are fixed on God.

 

Because we believe,

our faith and hope are fixed on God.

 

Because our faith and hope are fixed on God,

we are enabled to pass the Word to others –

 

the Word spoken by the risen Jesus,

out of death and darkness and doubt,

into life and light and hope –

 

the Word that calls us by our name,

as Jesus said, “Mary”.

 

But, named and precious as I am,

the Word is not for me alone.  

 

God of love,

let us love one another earnestly with all our heart,

 

and enable us to share your Word of love,

which is our faith and our hope.