1 Peter 1:17-21
If you call on the Father who judges impartially, according to the work of each person, conduct yourselves during the time of your pilgrimage in reverence, because you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, not with things that pass away, such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like a lamb without blemish or spot. He was chosen before the foundation of the world but revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him, you are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We call on you today because you are our Holy Father. We pray that because of our faith in Jesus, you see us through his righteousness, so all that we do may glorify you. You are our heavenly Father who not only created and continues to sustain us but also bought us back from all our sins. There was nothing we did in this; this was all your plan of salvation from the beginning. If we wander this earth without you, we have an empty, sin-filled way of life that would only result in our eternal death. Your salvation plan was to send your Son, who would die in our place, so whoever believed in him would have eternal life. This you established before the world’s foundation was created; he knew he would have to go to the cross and die for our sins. It was by his blood we have been redeemed. We place our hope in Jesus and trust in his forgiveness of all our sins. Through Him, we have the assurance of heaven, and on the last day, our bodies will all be raised from the dead. Send us your Spirit to keep our hope always grounded in You. Amen.
Vicar Roger Emmons
“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.” ELH Hymn 197