Reading the Word
1 Peter 1:13–21 (ESV)
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Understanding the Word
The Apostle Peter writes this letter to a church that is facing persecution. He hopes to encourage his readers to stand firm in their faith by reminding them of the hope that awaits them.
What is he calling them to do? He is calling them to “be holy” in their conduct. Peter is calling this group of believers to live lives that reflect the holiness of their Lord. What does this mean? To be “holy” means to be “set apart” or to be different than the world around you. It means to do the right thing even when everyone else is doing something else. It means to live a godly life in the midst of ungodliness.
Peter then goes on to remind his readers that they have been ransomed from their former way of living through the blood of Christ. The price of redemption was great so how could they simply go back to living the way they used to?
Applying the Word
Christians today live in a world that is not unlike that of Peter’s. It is full of ungodliness. In fact, this has been the case since the fall of mankind that we read about in Genesis 3. Unfortunately, it is often easy for us to fall into the habit of doing things just like everybody else, especially when we believe we have been treated unfairly.
Think about Peter’s audience. They are facing persecution for simply being followers of Jesus Christ. Many have been imprisoned or even killed! You can imagine how these believers might want to respond to these things. They would like to fight back!
But that is not what Peter tells them to do. He tells them to live holy lives. In the midst of the injustice, they are to live lives that reflect truth, justice, and love for others. They are to do what is right in God’s eyes.
We are not to live like the world. We are to be like the one to whom we belong. We are to be holy just as He is holy.
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