God's Disturbing Mercy

1 Peter 1:17-21
17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Father I call on you this morning knowing that you are the impartial judge of my life. I know that I am in Christ and that it is his virtue that brought me into your disturbing mercy to begin with. Though I’m a child, yea because I am a child you have warned me to live with a healthy and reverent fear of what you think of my life. Your grace and mercy do not cancel out your justice. Rather, your grace and mercy are complimentary of your justice. In light of what a short life I will have here on earth compared with the vastness of eternity awaiting me, I should live with a constant thought toward pleasing you.

I can be confident that the blood of Christ, more precious than any substance, has redeemed me like a prisoner of war bought back from captivity. What prisoner of war would come back to his own camp having been freed by the sacrificial death of his future king and then turn and work for the one who held him captive? Blatant sin in the life of a believer is tantamount to treason and treachery. And I am guilty.

Father I confess that I have failed to honor your Son’s redemption of my soul by living with little regard for what you think of me. Your word says that your plan of redemption was put into effect before my rebellious fathers turned away from you. Just as you raised Christ Jesus from the dead, I pray that you would infuse me with resurrection power that I might die to sin and live to Christ. And when that happens, I know that I will fare well at your Judgment. Pour out your mercy and grace upon me and make me holy as you are holy. My hope rests not in myself, but is in you alone.