1 Peter 1:3 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

Thoughts on today's verse:

Everything about our relationship with God is predicated on the fact of the resurrection. Yes, God is merciful, and we ought to ponder that. Yes, we have been born again, with our heart of stone being replaced with a heart of flesh; born again to a living hope, where have a confident expectation of one day seeing Jesus Christ face to face, what glory that will be! But, none of it is possible apart from the ministry of the risen Lord Jesus Christ!

It was our sins that drove him to the cross, and every time we observe the Lord's Table we remind ourselves of the cruel death that he suffered and the horrible price that sin exacts, but praise be to God that the Gospel doesn't end with Jesus on the cross! Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:16-17 - "For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!"

We have been raised to a living hope because of and through the living Savior!