1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1:4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
1:5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1:6 In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials,
1:7 so that the genuineness of your faith--being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1:8 Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
1:9 for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:3-9 (NRSV)
There’s no doubt about it — I enjoy rock concerts! They can relieve stress as they allow us to lose some inhibitions. For a few hours we can sing loudly, dance in the aisles, and generally have a good time with the music we love. Live concerts are once-in-a-lifetime events, moments in time that will never be repeated. They are unique. The music and the event itself often remain in our memories for weeks.
Is the season of Easter a bit like a rock concert in your life? Do we sing loudly and uninhibitedly dance with joy at the amazing gift that God, through Christ Jesus, offers each of us? Is it our favorite season? How long do we remember Easter once we move into the next period of calendar time? Every Sunday is meant to be a mini-Easter for each of us. We intentionally try to recreate the same joy and thankfulness during Sunday worship each week so we can carry this event into every day. Our joy can be a witness to the life Christ offers all of us — and that we are meant to offer others. That way Easter can be a daily reality, not just a memory.
Prayer
Loving God, thank you for salvation through Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. Teach us to live in joy each day as we remember the reality of Easter. Amen.
Prayer focus - Those who serve in Sunday worship
