We all need grace. Grace that calls us by our name when we have lost all hope. God’s grace gives us new birth into a living hope. God’s grace cares for us, provides for us and restores us when we have denied Christ. God in his grace offers forgiveness for all our sins and redemption for our souls.

What Christ, in grace, has done for you alters every dimension of how you live. You now live in hope because Christ’s death and resurrection has given you hope. This hope you have is a precious gift of God. Your living hope rests securely on God’s grace.

After denying Jesus three times, Peter found himself in the pit of despair. Grace did not allow Peter’s story to end there. In that bottomless pit of despair, Peter heard a voice call his name … “Peter, I am risen” … It was the voice of his resurrected friend, Jesus. In that moment he knew he had been given new birth into a living hope. As Peter set his hope on God’s mercy, he personally experienced God’s grace. With the call to “feed his sheep”, Jesus graciously restored and commissioned the one who had denied him. Although he suffered many trials through his life, Peter’s face radiated with inexpressible and glorious joy. 

God’s grace calls you by name, piercing your conscience, addressing all your relationships, realigning your priorities, redistributing your values and expanding your imagination . The same grace that called out to Peter – “do you love me more than these” is calling out to you right now to come home. The grace that restored Peter with the words “go and feed my sheep” is the same grace that calls to you to go and use the talents and skills God has blessed you with in reverent fear today, right here, right now, right where you live and work. 
Just as he who calls you is holy, so be holy in all you do. Be holy in how you live. Be holy in how you do your work. Be holy in your relationships. For it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Pet 1:16). When you stumble and fall, as we all do, know that God’s grace is there every moment to redeem all your sinful actions. God’s grace will carry you safely to the last day, to an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. 

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9)

Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you that you call us by name. May your word’s of grace re-awaken hope and enlarge our imagination for our lives, for love and for holiness. Amen.