And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Pet 1:17-19)
Futility. It is a lack of purpose or meaning. It speaks to that which is worthless. Peter writes to elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (1:1) and tells them that the ways they inherited from their forefathers are futile.
Life without the Lord is futile. Riches without righteousness are wasted. Physical work unaccompanied by heavenly wisdom is so very temporal. Heritage without holiness is vain. We devote ourselves, all of us, to the pursuit and promotion of such empty things.
But Jesus died to ransom us from our captivity to the worthless. The priceless blood of the Lord’s Anointed One was shed to redeem us from our quest for the paltry. Freedom from futility was purchased for us with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
Thanks be to God that Jesus died to free us from our futile ways. Let’s live for higher and holier things this week.