Read 1 Peter 1:13-24

Read 1 Peter 1:13-24

13 So then, have your minds ready for action. Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. ¹⁴Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant. ¹⁵Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. ¹⁶The scripture says, “Be holy because I am holy.”

17 You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him. ¹⁸For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; ¹⁹it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. ²⁰He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake. ²¹Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God.

22 Now that by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves and have come to have a sincere love for your fellow-believers, love one another earnestly with all your heart.^{b 23}For through the living and eternal word of God you have been born again as the children of a parent who is immortal, not mortal. ²⁴As the scripture says:

“All human beings are like grass,

and all their glory is like wild flowers.

The grass withers, and the flowers fall,

²⁵         but the word of the Lord remains for ever.”

This word is the Good News that was proclaimed to you.

Think

Being holy is defined by Jesus as loving perfectly; loving enemies and friends just as you love yourself.  This takes some effort; it is not the most natural thing for us to do – but because of Jesus gift of forgiveness and the power of the Holy Spirit it is possible.  It does take some effort – and Peter encourages us to do the work!

Pray

Sometimes I take your salvation for granted; I expect you to do all the work.  But you give me the privilege of partnering with you. Help me to work with you as you teach me your way of love and grace.

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¹⁶ 1.16: Lv 11:44, 45; 19:2

^b with all your heart; some manuscripts have with a pure heart.

²⁴ 1.24, 25: Is 40:6–8 (LXX)

²⁵ 1.24, 25: Is 40:6–8 (LXX)