Be Still And Know

1 Peter 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. When Peter wrote these words the storm clouds were gathering; the early Church was soon going to be facing very sharp and painful persecution. Many Christians were going to die, and Peter was well aware that he needed to equip them for the challenges to come. I love the fact that he does so not by offering them words of comfort or sympathy, but by an outburst of praise! It’s a good reminder to us that it is always the right time to praise God. It is not a way of dodging the challenges or putting a brave face on things, but because even in the harshest and most testing moments of life, God continues to be faithful, gracious and loving. Peter reminds his readers that they have been born again because of God’s mercy. The new life that we have in Christ is never because of anything good that we have done. There is no way in which we cou