TITLE: WE ARE CALLED TO HOLINESS, BECAUSE HE IS HOLY

TITLE: WE ARE CALLED TO HOLINESS, BECAUSE HE IS HOLY

SCRIPTURE:

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”  (1Peter 1:13-16 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

            The challenge of living life as I should in God is a daily undertaking.  I have been born again not of my own power but through Christ sacrifice on the cross that has taken away my sins.  I have been born again unto Christ.  Therefore I am encouraged by this word today of the kind of life that I must live.  I no longer own myself.  The life I now live as the Apostle Paul wrote, is no longer mine but Christ who love him and give himself for me.  This is what I must always keep in mind whose I am and how I should live his life in me.

           Here Peter said, Therefore, and this is important whenever I read the word therefore.  It is about to say what therefore that I must do.  Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 

            The state of my mind is important.  The way I think is important.  I must pay close attention to the way I think as I live the life of Jesus in me.  How I think will direct everything else’s in my life.  Peter said, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace that will be forthcoming from Jesus.  If my mind is thinking right, then everything else’s will follow.  I must SET my hope, on the grace of Christ. 

            Not only that my mind must be alert and sober to set my hope on the grace of Christ, I am also reminded of the importance of OBEDIENCE.  As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires I had in the past when I lived my life in ignorance of Christ.  The way I think is important to obedience.  Peter not only talks about the minds but also talks about our choices.  DO NOT CONFORM to the evil desires that we had before we came to Christ. 

            The way we think will greatly affects the way we make our choices.  Peter continues, reminding us that we are CALLED to obedience.  We are called to Holiness.  Just as HE who called me to be holy, therefore, I must be holy in all that I do.  God who is holy cannot be in a life that choose to live in evil desires of the past life.  I am called to think right, that leads to right choices.  Be holy, because I am holy.  I am called to a life that does not conform to my evil desires. 

APPLICATION:

            I must choose to think with a mind that is fully alert and sober so that I may think right and choose right.  I cannot walk with a casual and carnal mind in my walk with the Lord.  I must pay attention to the condition of my mind.  I am challenged today to live a holy life before the one who called me to live holy.  I know that I am no where near that, but today’s word encourages me to be alert and to think with right thinking.  I will continue to discipline my mind to be fully under the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit. 

PRAYER:

            Heavenly Father, I thank you for reminding me to pay attention to the way I think as I walk with you.  Thank you for reminding me not to conform to the evil desires of the past.  I ask that you continue to teach me how to live holy as you are.  Help me to renew my mind and to choose obedience over my fleshly desires.  I pray all these in Jesus name.  Amen!