1 Peter 1:3

New International Version

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

For Encouragement

God deserves our praise, brethren! 

I do not know about you, but when I consider His nature and what He has done for me in Christ, I cannot help but give Him praise. Step into a star-studded night and see if you can control yourself from praising Him? Experience the magnificence of this phenomenon and see if you can deny God His praise. 

It happened to me one night in Koulouck Mbada, Senegal. We had gone on a crusade with a small team from the Outreach ministry of our church. Suddenly, a parade of billions of stars burst on us, as the sky literally hung so low, giving the impression one could touch it. It was an experience of a lifetime, the night God brought Abraham outside to count the myriads of stars, if he could, for a literal picture of his descendants (Gen. 15:5). 

That is why David never stopped praising God. From the still nights in the countryside tending his family flock, he penned some of his best psalms praising the Lord (Psa.23). Through all his trials and suffering under King Saul, the barrage of attacks from his enemies, Absalom, his own son’s insurrection, the betrayal of his best friends, especially, Ahithophel his counselor and friend; even when he sinned and received God’s forgiveness (Psa. 32, 51). David always praised God after recounting those troubles in the bitterness of his soul, repenting when he had to, but always ending his psalms with praise. He commands us to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise, acknowledging that He is good. His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures forever, amen (Psa. 100:3-5). 

An example is when Peter wrote to the scattered Jewish believers in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. After raising the extraordinary work of salvation for that suffering Jewish congregation, Peter called them to joyful praise. “Praise be to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Pt. 1:3).

Verses 3-5 are a call to the people to sing a hymn of praise to the Almighty and gracious God for His kindness. Charles Spurgeon comments on these verses this way. 

“Our apostle cheers these troubled hearts by exciting them to a song of praise. I might almost call these three verses a New Testament Psalm. They are stanzas of a majestic song. You have here a delightful hymn; it scarce needs to be turned into verses; it is in itself essentially poetry … In these three verses we have; nay, the comparisons are poor, we have something far better than all the riches of the earth can ever typify.” Recognize the verses like a string of pearls, a necklace of diamonds, a cabinet of jewels, and Spurgeon says, they don’t even come close to describing God’s great mercy in our new birth into a living hope … and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade (3-4). 

So, why can’t you praise God today? Why can’t you continually offer to God through Jesus, “a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name” (Heb. 13:5). Come on! Raise your voice and give God a shout of praise now, for He deserves all your praise everyday. 

Shalom 

Pray with Me

For all you are and what you have done to save me and given me a future inheritance you have kept in heaven for me, I praise you, Lord. Receive all glory today, because you deserve my all in Christ Jesus, amen.

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