For 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 ancestors,  but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

 1 Peter 1:18-19

What is precious?  The natural man holds many things as worth fighting for, we say.  But what is the most precious?  Certainly not money, or fame, nor accomplishments, nor family nor nation.  These things are important as far as they go but Peter goes much higher than that.  He delights in our position in Christ Jesus now!

All things fade into the background when we realize that we, as believers, are redeemed from all striving and emptiness and liberated from ancestral feelings, all things earthly, by the precious blood of Jesus, a lamb without blemish or defect. Jesus is the pastoral lamb, perfect in all ways and one with his Father.  His spilled blood is our life blood.  He is raised from the dead.  We, his followers, have a similar story.  Saved by grace!