Scripture to Read: 1 Peter 2:24-25
As we wrap up 1 Peter 2, God lovingly reminds us of what Christ has done for us. 1 Peter 2:24-25 says, and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. Verses 24-25 are great verses to memorize to be able to share the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ and for us to know the incredible gift Christ has given to every one of His followers. Christ had every sin, for all time, laid on Him while suffering the most excruciating pain of hanging on the cross. Christ suffered more deeply physically due to the scourging He was given before the cross and then being nailed to the cross and hanging there for six hours. But He suffered more profoundly spiritually because all sin was placed on Him. Because Christ took all sin upon Himself, the Father turned His back on Him, for He could not look on Christ as all sin was on Him. Such spiritual pain we’ll never know, but Christ did this so we could receive His gift of forgiveness and come into God the Father’s presence, clean and pure, through His cleansing blood. God says that we were completely healed through Christ. Before we surrendered to Christ, we were like lost sheep. But for every follower of Christ, He is the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls.
Challenge & Application
1. When you take to heart all that Christ has done for you, how does this change the way you live for Him?
2. The challenge to memorize 1 Peter 2:24-25 was given. How do you see God using these verses to help you share them?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!