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April 17, 2026

God’s Promises

Meg Lybeck-Smoak   |   Read 1 Peter 1:17-23

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Lectionary Week
April 13–19, 2026
Scripture Overview

The scriptures this week are rooted in the promises of God for the people of God. In Acts and Luke, the promises of God’s love evident in the sacraments of baptism and Communion are uplifted. The psalm speaks of God’s promise to be with us, even—and especially—during times of suffering when we call out to God in prayer. First Peter claims God’s promise to be faithful to us, as we humans are in turn called to be faithful to God and to live out our faith in communities of God’s beloved.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

Read Acts 2:14a, 36-41. As you think about your baptism, how have the vows you made (or that others made on your behalf) brought you closer to God and to claiming God’s promise of love in your life?
Read Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19. When have you cried out to God in prayer during a time of suffering in your life and experienced God’s promise to hear your petitions?
Read 1 Peter 1:17-23. How do you witness God’s promise of faithfulness to you when you respond by living your faith in community?
Read Luke 24:13-35. When has the celebration of Holy Communion opened the eyes of your heart anew to God’s promise of salvation for you?

Respond by posting a prayer.

1 Peter 1:17-23

17 Since you call upon a Father who judges all people according to their actions without favoritism, you should conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your dwelling in a strange land. 18 Live in this way, knowing that you were not liberated by perishable things like silver or gold from the empty lifestyle you inherited from your ancestors. 19 Instead, you were liberated by the precious blood of Christ, like that of a flawless, spotless lamb. 20 Christ was chosen before the creation of the world, but was only revealed at the end of time. This was done for you, 21 who through Christ are faithful to the God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory. So now, your faith and hope should rest in God. 22 As you set yourselves apart by your obedience to the truth so that you might have genuine affection for your fellow believers, love each other deeply and earnestly. 23 Do this because you have been given new birth—not from the type of seed that decays but from seed that doesn’t. This seed is God’s life-giving and enduring word.

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

It is easy for us to focus on the material things of this world. Every day we go to work, drive the kids to school, cook meals, prepare for the next day, and try to get enough sleep. Then we get up the next day and do it all over...

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God of hope, help us to focus our whole being on your living and enduring word. We seek to live out our faith by loving one another as you love us. Amen.


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