8 December | EVERYONE
"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1: 13-16
You walk down the street and everyone senses that you are special. Your face reflects glory. You live in this world, but you do not belong to it. That is the theme Peter develops in his first epistle. Followers of Jesus are nourished by a living hope. It is not a mere illusion but an experiential reality. The gospel becomes flesh in the life of those who give themselves to Christ and the people around can see Jesus in them.
Peter then concludes that if we have a living hope, our life will be a garden where faithfulness and good works flourish. We do not live like we used to. Now we walk in God’s way, follow in the footsteps of the Master, and overcome the tendencies of the flesh. All this is the ripe fruit of faith because our experience is grounded in the grace of Jesus Christ.
Without grace, there is no salvation, no hope, no victory. Grace is the central axis of the Christian's life. It is not a grace devoid of practical dimension, but it is grace visible to others in the followers of the Master. This is because these, as we read above, will no longer live according to their old desires, but according to God's desires. They will be "holy."
The word 'holy' in Greek means "set apart for a special purpose." We are holy when, living in this world, we know that our values are those of the kingdom of God; and that we are human, like everyone else, but with a special purpose. Then, we perceive how much the Lord loves us, and this moves us to reciprocate that love, growing every day in holiness, understanding, and living according to God's high purpose for us.
Take Action
Even though the Spirit has changed your heart, the world and the adversary still appeal to your fallen nature. It is not uncommon, therefore, for the biblical authors to call you to be alert and consistent with your conversion. To that end, connect even more with Jesus!