You know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect (1 Peter 1:18-19).

How do you feel about Amazon®?

That's a loaded question, isn't it?! We like to have the ease of getting things delivered to our door, which is especially helpful during a pandemic lockdown. Many of us also enjoy streaming shows and movies without having to subscribe to a cable company.

But there are some drawbacks. Amazon, like Google® and several other tech giants, knows way too much about us and has way too much information on us. And, for me, there is another drawback: How do I get gifts for people who have already ordered the stuff they want?

That's a real problem even without the Amazon factor. How do I get gifts that mean something special for the people I love?

The gifts most meaningful to me are often the ones that were homemade or crafted personally by those I love. Most of us believe that the value of a gift isn't based on the financial cost of the gift itself but on the personal sacrifice made to give it!

What about you? What is the most meaningful gift someone has ever given you?

We know the most valuable gift we have received as children of God: Jesus!

Jesus was God's gift sent to us out of his love for us and his desire to save us (1 John 3:16-17). Jesus gave up everything to come to us, be one of us, give his life for us, conquer death that held us, and he did it all so that we could share in life with him forever in glory! Jesus is the ultimate gift from the ultimate giver!

Jesus was the perfect lamb without blemish or defect, yet he willingly sacrificed himself for us with our faults, flaws, and sins. He redeemed us from sin, death, and hell. He bought us out of our slavery to mortality and the bondage created by all our addictions and earthly desires. So, let's rejoice today in our redemption and realize the greatness of God's love, mercy, and grace! That is what Peter's message in 1 Peter 1:18-19 is all about.

Let's thank God for this redemption purchased for us by Christ Jesus and his sacrifice for us as the Lamb of God:

Holy God, may I live each day more aware of my inestimable value to you. May my words, thoughts, and actions be permeated with your sense of my worth — not so that I may seem important to others or myself, but so that I may live in holiness and honor in response to your precious gift of grace through Jesus, the unblemished Lamb without defect sacrificed for me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

You will find Phil's video message on these verses and then the whole ToGather.church worship video below.

The full worship video celebrates the truth of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. This celebration is in song, communion, and blessing and includes Phil's message. We pray God blesses you and the Spirit fills you as we celebrate the gift of Jesus' triumph over sin and death!

Phil's Message for This Week

Let's rejoice today in our redemption and realize the greatness of God's love, mercy, and grace!

Full ToGather Worship Video

Special thanks for the use of images related to Jesus' ministry from The Lumo Project and Free Bible Images for use in both ToGather videos.