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“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:3)
Blessing God is an expression of worship. We ascribe to God the glory due His name. We bless Him for who He is as Creator and for what He has done as Redeemer.
Peter begins the body of his letter inciting blessing to God. When the psalmist invoked blessing to God he sought to reach to the depths of his being. “Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!” (Psa. 103:1)
Although David would later in that psalm describe the character of God to provoke praise, he begins by speaking of what God had done as Redeemer. “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psa. 103:2). He goes on to inventory those benefits.
In the same way, Peter rouses us to bless God for what He has done. Not surprisingly since he is writing to pilgrims, Peter celebrates God’s wondrous mercy in giving us a home in heaven.
Before he details that hope, however, Peter focuses our attention on God. It is easy for us to lose sight of God when we are beset by troubles. Peter learned this lesson personally. When he was in a boat rocked by a storm-tossed sea and he saw Jesus walking toward him on the water, he asked Jesus to allow him to walk on the water to Him. Peter stepped out of the boat but when he took his eyes off Jesus and turned his attention to the tumultuous sea, he began to sink. Jesus graciously responded to Peter’s cry for help.
Now writing to people who are engulfed in the storm of suffering, Peter directs their eyes to God. He identifies Him as “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Peter particularly wants us to see God as the One who has intervened in history for our sake. He is the God who has given His Son. And in His Son are rooted every blessing of our salvation.
REFLECTION: Bearings in suffering start with focus on God. Begin with praise not petition.
Unless noted otherwise, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.