Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9 NIV)
Grace did not allow Peter’s story to end in the pit of despair. For in that bottomless pit of despair Peter heard a voice call his name … “Peter I am risen” … It was voice of his resurrected friend, Jesus. In that moment he knew he had been given new birth into a living hope. As Peter set his hope on God’s mercy he personally experienced God’s grace as Jesus restored the one who had denied him with the call to “feed his sheep.” Although he suffered many kinds of trials through his life, Peter’s face radiated with inexpressible and glorious joy.
What Christ, in grace, has done for you alters every dimension of how you live. You now live in hope because Christ’s death and resurrection has given you hope. This hope you have is a precious gift of God. Living among people who have no hope, your living hope rests securely on God’s grace.
God’s grace calls you by name, piercing your conscience, addressing all your relationships, realigning your priorities, redistributing your values and expanding your imagination [1]. The same grace that called out to Peter – “do you love me more than these” every moment calls out to you to welcome you home. The grace that restored Peter with the words “go and feed my sheep” is the same grace that calls to you to go and use the talents and skills God has blessed you with in reverent fear today, right here, right now, right where you live and work.
Just as he who calls you is holy, so be holy in all you do. Be holy in how you live. Be holy in how you do your work. Be holy in your relationships. For it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy”[2]. When you stumble and fall, as we all do, know that God’s grace is there every moment to redeem all your sinful actions. God’s grace will carry you safely to the last day, to an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you that you call us by name. May your word, that endures forever, re-ignite our hope and enlarge our imagination for our lives, for love and for holiness. Amen.
[1] Labberton, Mark – Our Daunting Hope, Leadership Summer 2005 http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2005/summer/10.30.html
[2] 1 Peter 1:16
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