Expectations
Expectations. They're a tricky little thing aren't they?
Everyone has them, and there's nothing worse than not having those expectations met.
God puts expectations on those who have received His grace. Although there's nothing we can do to earn our salvation, there are some things we can do to show our salvation. There are things that should take place in our lives because of our salvation.
"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. 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 Peter 1:13-16
The transition word "therefore" reminds Peter's readers that everything he just said (read the beginning of chapter one) is critical to their understanding of what comes next. Essentially roll up your sleeves, get your mind in gear, be prepared. We are to set our hope fully in Christ, regardless of what comes our way.
He is telling us that we need to get into the habit of focusing on God's grace each day. Good days, and bad days. How?
Well, for starters removing mental hindrances. The situation of the persecuted believers to whom Peter wrote had to be discouraging. Discouragement is a terrible mental hindrance. It has turned many believers into spiritual couch potatoes.
Peter's readers could have easily been filled with fear, worry, and bitterness. Why did life seem so easy for others? They might have been weary. They may have wondered what's the use?
What about us? Has opposition or resistance discouraged us in our efforts to live for and serve the Lord? Have we felt abandoned by Him? Have unanswered prayers, financial losses, or family problems raised doubt about His love and power?
Peter tells us the right mental preparation for action involves being serious. The Greek word conveys remaining calm, keeping one's cool, to be self-controlled. Self-control doesn't just happen. We have to make an effort, and we have to make that effort before crisis comes.
While the pressures we face may not be the same as those of Peter's first readers, they are nevertheless real. Problems and trials are real to the person going through them; even if you think they're not. When we learn through self discipline to renounce negative thoughts and attitudes that cloud our minds we can truly focus on the hope that is found in Christ Jesus.
Peter challenges us to be holy in all of our conduct, and then he quotes Leviticus--"Be holy because I am holy." To be holy means to be set apart. More specifically it means to be set apart for God. God is the standard. Not your family, not your coworker, not your classmate, not another church member--God. He is holy, and we are to imitate His holiness.
Is holiness achievable?
Yes and no.
No, because through our own strength we'll never be able to live a sinless life. At our core we have a corrupt nature that causes us to stumble regularly.
But yes because Christ's righteousness becomes our righteousness. Jesus took our sins on His shoulders, and by His death He paid the price for our sins. Jesus' perfect and sinless life becomes our perfect and sinless life. We could never accomplish this on our own--it's only by the blood of Christ.
There is a beautiful tension between our aspiration to holy living and our sin stained efforts to attain it with the Holy Spirit's strength--and that tension leads us in the direction of holiness, even though we never fully realize holiness here.
With that said...how holy is your conduct? Who among us would stand up in a church service and testify that we are living holy lives? Most of us are very aware that our holiness needs work.
So...how do we move in the right direction?
Daily Bible reading
Daily prayer time
Regular Bible study & worship with others
I bet those believers Peter wrote to had some expectations for their life--and I'm quite certain it did not involve persecution.
Maybe life isn't panning out exactly how you thought it would. I've been there. My life hasn't always been easy. Pain and discouragement have knocked on my door a time or two, and they've often been worn by someone I thought would show me love and encouragement. Expectations are funny that way.
But the command to be holy comes directly from God. This is His expectation for us.
As we fall more in love with God and His Word and our desire to obey Him increases, godly character becomes more natural. It's not something you have to work up, it's a natural overflow of Him residing in you. And that will speak volumes to a lost and hurting world.
No wonder that's what He expects of us..........
Everyone has them, and there's nothing worse than not having those expectations met.
God puts expectations on those who have received His grace. Although there's nothing we can do to earn our salvation, there are some things we can do to show our salvation. There are things that should take place in our lives because of our salvation.
"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. 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 Peter 1:13-16
The transition word "therefore" reminds Peter's readers that everything he just said (read the beginning of chapter one) is critical to their understanding of what comes next. Essentially roll up your sleeves, get your mind in gear, be prepared. We are to set our hope fully in Christ, regardless of what comes our way.
He is telling us that we need to get into the habit of focusing on God's grace each day. Good days, and bad days. How?
Well, for starters removing mental hindrances. The situation of the persecuted believers to whom Peter wrote had to be discouraging. Discouragement is a terrible mental hindrance. It has turned many believers into spiritual couch potatoes.
Peter's readers could have easily been filled with fear, worry, and bitterness. Why did life seem so easy for others? They might have been weary. They may have wondered what's the use?
What about us? Has opposition or resistance discouraged us in our efforts to live for and serve the Lord? Have we felt abandoned by Him? Have unanswered prayers, financial losses, or family problems raised doubt about His love and power?
Peter tells us the right mental preparation for action involves being serious. The Greek word conveys remaining calm, keeping one's cool, to be self-controlled. Self-control doesn't just happen. We have to make an effort, and we have to make that effort before crisis comes.
While the pressures we face may not be the same as those of Peter's first readers, they are nevertheless real. Problems and trials are real to the person going through them; even if you think they're not. When we learn through self discipline to renounce negative thoughts and attitudes that cloud our minds we can truly focus on the hope that is found in Christ Jesus.
Peter challenges us to be holy in all of our conduct, and then he quotes Leviticus--"Be holy because I am holy." To be holy means to be set apart. More specifically it means to be set apart for God. God is the standard. Not your family, not your coworker, not your classmate, not another church member--God. He is holy, and we are to imitate His holiness.
Is holiness achievable?
Yes and no.
No, because through our own strength we'll never be able to live a sinless life. At our core we have a corrupt nature that causes us to stumble regularly.
But yes because Christ's righteousness becomes our righteousness. Jesus took our sins on His shoulders, and by His death He paid the price for our sins. Jesus' perfect and sinless life becomes our perfect and sinless life. We could never accomplish this on our own--it's only by the blood of Christ.
There is a beautiful tension between our aspiration to holy living and our sin stained efforts to attain it with the Holy Spirit's strength--and that tension leads us in the direction of holiness, even though we never fully realize holiness here.
With that said...how holy is your conduct? Who among us would stand up in a church service and testify that we are living holy lives? Most of us are very aware that our holiness needs work.
So...how do we move in the right direction?
Daily Bible reading
Daily prayer time
Regular Bible study & worship with others
I bet those believers Peter wrote to had some expectations for their life--and I'm quite certain it did not involve persecution.
Maybe life isn't panning out exactly how you thought it would. I've been there. My life hasn't always been easy. Pain and discouragement have knocked on my door a time or two, and they've often been worn by someone I thought would show me love and encouragement. Expectations are funny that way.
But the command to be holy comes directly from God. This is His expectation for us.
As we fall more in love with God and His Word and our desire to obey Him increases, godly character becomes more natural. It's not something you have to work up, it's a natural overflow of Him residing in you. And that will speak volumes to a lost and hurting world.
No wonder that's what He expects of us..........
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