“Be Holy in Every Aspect of Your Lives”

Peter tells us to “be holy in every aspect of your lives.” But how do we do that? And why is it so important?

Scripture:       

1 Peter, chapters 1-5

1 Peter 1:13-21 (CEB):

Therefore, once you have your minds ready for action and you are thinking clearly, place your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Don’t be conformed to your former desires, those that shaped you when you were ignorant. But, as obedient children, you must be holy in every aspect of your lives, just as the one who called you is holy. It is written, “You will be holy, because I am holy.”

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. 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. Instead you were liberated by the precious blood of Christ, like that of a flawless, spotless lamb. Christ was chosen before the creation of the world, but was only revealed at the end of time. This was done for you, 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.

Observations: Minds Ready for Action

Peter begins this passage with the call to have your minds ready for action. That’s an interesting phrase! We usually think of preparing ourselves physically for action, both through training and through putting on the appropriate “equipment.” But what does it mean to have our minds ready for action? I would suggest that it involves the same process – training and equipment. How do we prepare our minds?

• Studying Scripture
• Listening to spiritually inspired teachers
• Being transformed by the renewing of our minds
• Trusting and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us

Be Holy in Every Aspect of Your Lives

But it is not enough to just “get ready for action”; we have to act! Peter gives us direction in this regard as well:

• Don’t be conformed to your former desires (v 14)
• Be holy in every aspect of your lives (v 15)
• Conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your dwelling in a strange land (v 17)

What we do matters! How we live matters! Peter reminds us earlier in this chapter that we have been given new birth – born anew into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (v 3). Because we are born anew, our lives should also look new, not like our former desires.

We are able to be holy because of what God has done for us. We have been liberated…from the empty lifestyle [we] inherited from [our] ancestors. Our new birth results in a new life, a spiritual life that is qualitatively different from our former lives. Because we have been set free, we should live like those who are free!

Application: Be Holy in Every Aspect of Your Lives

I’ve reflected before on the call to be holy, and the importance that God places on the way that we live. I know that some people believe that we cannot be holy, that we are bound to “sin every day in word, thought, and deed.” It is true that we are not completely perfected in this life, but that does not mean that God wants us to simply surrender to sinfulness. We are new creations; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The critical factor is intention. While we are not completely perfected on this side of eternity, we can live above the willful rebellion against God that marked our former lives. In fact, not only can we live that way; God expects us to live that way. “My little children, I’m writing these things to you so that you don’t sin. But if you do sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one” (1 John 2:1). God calls us to live that way, and God empowers us to live that way.

Peter makes this point clearly in the middle of today’s passage: 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 (v 17). If our actions did not matter, why would God judge us according to them? If it were impossible for us to live holy lives, why would God call us to do so? Jesus defeated sin on the cross; that’s why we are able to be holy. Once we have our minds ready for action and are thinking clearly, we will walk in the way the Spirit leads us!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit, who cleanses us, empowers us, and leads us in the truth. Help us to have our minds ready for action, and to clearly understand your call to be holy. Thank You for setting us free from our old way of life. Thank You for liberating us by the precious blood of Your Son Jesus Christ.

Father, Peter tells us that our faith and hope should rest in You. Help us to put our faith and hope in You today. Amen.