Dec 18 - 1 Peter 1:18-19

You know that

you were ransomed

from the futile ways

inherited from your ancestors,

not with perishable things like gold and silver,

but with the precious blood of Christ.

1 Peter 1:18-19

Have you ever wished you had a rich old relative who left you a million dollars in their will?!

That's the kind of inheritance that most of us think about. But rather than inheriting gold and silver, we are more frequently bequeathed patterns of thought and behavior from our parents and our culture.

Some of these patterns are tremendous blessings. For example, many of us have been given a wonderful heritage of freedom, justice, love, and even faith!

Others times we inherit utter futility.

In theory, most of us may "know" about God's promises of grace. But most of us don't live like it. Most of us live like we have to work our way to God.

How futile! We can't do it. God is so holy, perfect, and pure that we -- in comparison --are hopelessly broken, stained, and failing. Therefore, when we occasionally and inevitably fail, we wind up kidnapped by hopelessness, guilt, or despair.

If we were to be free, a ransome had to be paid. But we couldn't do it ourselves. We can never be as good as God.

The Gospel message is that the Son of God paid the penalty for us. Through the precious blood of Christ, our sins have been covered. The world futilily says, "work harder." Jesus' self-giving love says, "Give thanks, because you are ransomed and free."

In Christ's Love,

a former hostage