1 Peter 1:13-16

1 Peter 1:13-16

Therefore, after preparing your minds, while being in control of your thoughts, hope completely upon the grace that is being brought to you all in the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As children of obedience, while not conforming yourselves to the former evil desires in your ignorance but rather holy according to the one who called you, also become holy yourselves in every manner of conduct because it has been written, “You all will be holy because I am holy.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Take a good look at where Peter begins this section of verses.  We are to prepare our mind.  We are to be in control of our thoughts.  Of course, none of us can absolutely control every thought that we have; I don’t think that’s Peter’s point.  What Peter is saying is that we need to live in a manner that wrestles to bring our nature under control rather than live in a way that lets our nature run free untamed.

Do you try to reign in your nature or does your nature run free?  What is the difference in these positions to you?  Is Peter implying that we cannot have fun and enjoyment by saying this?

Second Thought:

Then Peter tells us that we should place our hope in the grace that comes through the revelation of Jesus Christ.  This is a simple point that is brought up again and again in the New Testament.  It is so simple, it is easy to wonder why it needs to be said so much.  But it needs to be said so often because it is the crux of what our faith is all about.  When God revealed Jesus, salvation came.  It’s just that simple.  Without Jesus as God’s Messiah, there is no hope in an extension of grace.

Do you place your hope in Christ?  What does that look and feel like for you?

Third Thought:

The point that Peter ends on in this passage is a neat place to end.  We are holy because God is holy.  We are not holy because we earn it, deserve it, or work ourselves into it.  We are holy because God is holy.  God imparts His holiness upon us as a matter of grace.  Furthermore, remember that the definition of the word holy is “different.”  We can be different from our nature because God is different.

In what ways are you different from your nature?  In what ways do you see God being different from humanity?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Peter 1:17-21