1 Peter 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”
The Egyptians celebrated the birthday of their Pharaohs. The Romans recognized birthdays among the more common people. The Germans started a birthday celebration for kids in the 18th century. Middle class Americans did not celebrate birthdays until after the Civil War. The birthday industry today in America is a remarkable $38 billion a year.
We make a big deal out of birthdays and so does our God. He celebrates our new birth. The new birth originated in the great mercy of our God. We were dead in our sins. Our spirits were without life and separated from God. But God who is rich in mercy reached down to us through the sacrificial death of His Son. By faith in Jesus Christ, we were born again. God made us alive by His Spirit who regenerated us.
The new birth brought us into a living hope. The hope rests in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because He lives, we live and will live forever. Death has no power over us and the grave lost it’s grip on our future. Now we are full of life and the Spirit of the Lord. May we bless God during these holy days. May we celebrate the new birth in awe of the great mercy of our heavenly Father.
Glory in your new birth today. Give thanks to the author and finisher of our faith!