I Peter 1:18-20

Turn with me to I Peter 1. I believe the one thing God wants more than anything from us is that which He first gave to us. We are picking up a scripture about God's planning and His earliest recorded decision regarding this one thing. Now, this plan was made before the Creation account in Genesis 1 and 2. So just think about that. Way before the Creation account of Genesis 1 or 2, this plan was made.

So before the world was created, God the Father and Jesus Christ made the plan of sacrifice. In Their infinite wisdom, They knew it was only a matter of time before human nature would sin, especially with Satan on the scene. And so one of Them, They concluded, would have to sacrifice and risk everything, risk eternal life together forever. That is what was at stake here when They were building this plan. Jesus would be born human. He would have to live a sinless life, and then He would have to sacrifice His life and pay the death penalty for mankind's sin.

Sacrifice is indeed the foundation for mankind's salvation. It is sacrifice that underpins faith, hope, love, obedience. I mean, think about it; none of these are even possible without God's sacrifice that had to come first. And likewise, none of these are possible without our daily sacrifice.

I Peter 1:17-21

The emphasis here in I Peter 1:17-21 is on the cost of reconciliation. Now, that is very important to God's purpose because a major portion of our desire to obey God comes from a sense of obligation to God and Christ with regard to our appreciation for how much was paid for us to be free.