As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:14-16).
The Apostle Peter reminds us that God’s command is plain: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” For the hot-tempered, rash-speaking, and three times denying Jesus apostle, those words would have been as scary to write then (just before or after Christ’s death on the cross) as they are for us to read. But by the time of the writing of his letter, however, Peter “gets it” that is why he is exhorting his readers this way. He is convinced of this truth so that they might be as well.
Without Christ’s provision, those words SHOULD scare anyone! Remember from, Hebrews 11:6- “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” These word and “You shall be holy, for I am Holy.” should make us wonder, “How does God expect me to be holy? I know my weaknesses of temper, speech, and courage. How can I ever meet this standard?”
The answer lies in the identity of those that Peter addresses. Yes, they are called to obedience, but they are also called children. The only way that you can really be God’s child is if He is your Father. And Jesus told us how we would really know our Heavenly Father: “No one knows … who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Luke 10:22).
We know we are God’s children when we believe Him to be the One who sent Jesus to die for our sins. Jesus’ ministry reveals the Heavenly Father. If you believe Jesus revealed Him, you are His child. When Peter calls us to be holy, he is not urging us to qualify for a relationship with our Heavenly Father; he is urging us to live for the Father who already provided Christ’s holiness to make us his children by faith. This IS who we are in Christ.
Today, make this or something like it your prayer as you close out this week…Father, I know that you have already made me your holy child by my trust in the work of your Son. Now help me each day to be more of what I am – your holy child, who loves and honors you in what I think, do, and say. Amen.
God Bless y’all today.
In His Grip,
Pastor Mike
