Be HoLY - - - 1 Peter 1 : 13-25

13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,

"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25but the word of the Lord stands forever."And this is the word that was preached to you.

Sorry Father, but the Purdue Duke game was on. I know, no buts.

This passage reminds Jesus' followers to be holy. This section basically defines what holy is. To be holy is: to be self controlled, fully obedient like children, and fully dependent on Jesus. Holy is also is the definition of Jesus Himself whom we attempt to be more and more like Him everyday, which is pretty much impossible. But why try when we know that we will never be like Jesus? Because verse 7 states that "[God] judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear." God sees each man's work as its own and does not favor one man or woman over another. He sees that you study hard every Saturday night when he sees me play Starcraft. He sees that you pray a few times a day, he sees me pray only before meals and before I sleep. God knows and sees all. The things that we do will reflect on judgment day so we... I better watch myself.

The thing that sticks out the most in this passage is the repetition of our One and only, Jesus. Through His 'precious blood', this 'lamb withouth blemish or defect' has saved us (for our sake in verse 20). Salvation that we do not deserve, was gifted to us.

Amen.