Series: New New
1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV
The resurrection of Jesus was a “deal” with me one time when I was growing in faith and knowledge of God.
I couldn’t wrap my head around how the resurrection of Jesus could have happened. Plus, I was young and I couldn’t understand the results of the resurrection.
We are told in 1 Peter 1:3-5, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
According to Peter the first miracle that happened was the mercy of God. Don’t get me wrong, I had some understanding of mercy. I knew when I really really messed up my dad could have really punished me, but he didn’t. Instead he made me sit and talk about what happened that caused me to make a bad decision. He went to the root reason I got off track.
It took a while but eventually I started to see there was always a point where I made a decision. From that decision I chose which roller coaster I would get on. I could get on a good roller coaster that led to good decisions or I could get on a bad roller coaster that led to bad decisions.
Now, my dad was talking about general decisions I made throughout my day but eventually he inserted the decisions we make with God. I know now that he did that because ultimately the decisions we make to choose God or to choose the world without God impact every decision we will make as we grow.
As we learn from Peter in 1 Peter 1:3-5 when we accept God’s mercy we are born again spiritually into a life of hope through the resurrection of Jesus.
It was the resurrection of Jesus that changed everything.
It took time (and maturity) for me to understand the miracle of the resurrection and the reverberation that it opened the door to…it is unending. It is eternal.
The resurrection of Jesus really is imperishable, undefiled, and UNfading. It opened the door of heaven for us.
Even post seminary I realized I cannot understand how that can happen.
Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3 “you must be born again.” This “born again” act is not by our hand…it is only accomplished by and through God.
We cannot do anything to make that happen…
We can only be born again through Jesus and the resurrection will only come by Jesus God,
I came to realize I do not need to understand it.
I remember as a young girl the Spirit urged me to go up front in a church in Kansas City, MO. I remember being baptized. Before that day I was nervous because I’m afraid of putting my face in the water. I’d had swimming classes (many) and I didn’t do well when I had to put my face in the water.
My dad knew I was afraid and I know he was praying for me. As it turned out I did well and I did not choke that day.
It was a great experience.
By God’s power I was guarded. Many decades later I know I will be resurrected through Christ and because of Jesus, God.
That’s because Jesus, God by his death conquered everything by his death and resurrection.
I came to realize I do not need to understand how that happened.
I simply need to turn to God and lean on Jesus.
Everything else has been covered.
Spiritual Practice: Lean Into Jesus
Let Jesus help you carry your load today.
In God, Deborah
Comments