This is day 6 of Reading 1 Peter Together. By today you should have read the entire book of 1 Peter six times. Is it becoming familiar yet? Today we will focus our attention on 1:13-21.
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.
After giving assurance of salvation and reminding the believers of the future glory awaiting them in Heaven in 1:3-12, Peter begins transitioning to instructing the exiles how to behave during their remaining time on earth. Heaven is home; earth is only a temporary dwelling place for believers. So how do we live while we’re here living through various trials and suffering for the faith, if God calls us to suffer?
Peter gives several instructions in verses 13-21.
- 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. (v. 13)
- As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but be holy in all your conduct (v. 14-16)
- Conduct yourself with fear during the time of your exile (v. 17)
But why should believers live this way?
Because God our Father is holy, and because we were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from our forefathers by the blood of Christ. Christ paid a price, not with silver and gold, but with his own blood to ransom us from our bondage to sin. Why would we continue to do things that Christ bled and died to free us from? How can claim God as Father and then live in a way that dishonors him, or live in continued disobedience to him?
Here are some questions to think about today.
In the context of suffering for your faith, or even facing the various trials of life, what does it mean to prepare your mind for action and be sober-minded? How do we do this?
Why does Peter tell us to live as obedient children? What is the significance of that?
What are the passions of our former ignorance and futile ways inherited from our forefathers?
What does it mean that our Father judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, and why would that cause us to conduct ourselves with fear during the time of our exile?
Why does Peter say that the precious blood of Christ is like that of a lamb without spot or blemish?
According to verses 3, 13, and 21- what is the source of hope for the Christian? Why does this give us hope?
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