“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)

The Scripture is filled with passages praising God. When Jesus was born God’s Angels offered their praise. “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:13-14) When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people offered their praise to God, “When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:  Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:37-38)

Peter, who had been with Jesus through His ministry on earth, would begin His first letter by writing, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Peter 1:3) He would then lay out several reasons for believers to give praise to God.

First, we can praise God because of His mercy. It is through His mercy that we have been given a new life and a living hope which will last for all eternity. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Second, we can praise God because everything changed when Jesus rose from the dead. All of Christianity stands because Jesus rose from the dead. “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Third, we can praise God because we have an inheritance which will not perish, spoil or fade. Our eternal inheritance will not be affected by time. Things that perish, spoil or fade, deteriorate over time. In our inheritance, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” (Revelation 21:4b-5)

Fourth, we can praise God because we are protected by God’s power. Jesus, the good shepherd, said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)

Peter gives us rich ground for us to praise God.  His mercy provides the doorway for us to express praise. Christ’s resurrection opens the door so, by faith, we can praise Him for our ability to know Him. He has established a new eternal inheritance for us, where we are just now starting to praise Him. We have a God who protects us, so no one take us from Him, ever.  This is just a start of our reasons to praise God. The Apostle Paul would state the breadth of our reasons to praise our God. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3)

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block