Note: The High School heard another student testimony this week. We will be hearing another this coming Sunday. It has been fantastic to see the Lord growing this group and growing their sense of community with the other saints.
Text: 1 Peter 1:13-16
As we continue through 1 Peter, we come to a section that many often stumble over. Peter quotes Leviticus which says, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." When we understand what holiness is, we understand that is a difficult calling.
In v 13, Peter asks us to set our minds on the grace that will be brought to us at the revelation of Christ? What is that? In short, I interpret this as the fact that when Christ comes back, we'll be made complete. Our sinful bodies will be made whole again and we will be without sin. That is something to really set your mind on! Especially when you consider Peter just finished talking about the persecution of the church and how they were to look toward their inheritance rather than their present struggles. The same can be said here.
After this exhortation, Peter calls us to be holy. How is one holy? The simply answer is that we must be set apart from the other things. Our ways and lives must be different from those of the world around us. God has set his people aside for a future hope, and we must act becoming of that. What is our motivation? It isn't to be able to point fingers at those who don't, or to somehow make ourselves better than the world. We set ourselves apart because we believe in eternity. The hope of eternity brings meaning to all that we do.
One question I posed to the kids was to think, "How would you act differently if you didn't believe the Bible was true?" Think about it. Without the truth of Scripture and its foundation, we would be completely justified in our selfishness - however it manifested itself. If we had no hope - if death was the end - then we would need to suck the marrow from every experience, and do so with only ourselves in mind. What would be the point of marriage? Having children? Only to serve our own needs and desires.
Where do we see this kind of life lived out? In the world. We also see it in the church. Peter's call to holiness is for us to remember the death and resurrection of Christ, and act in light of his immanent return. Because he is coming back, we have hope. Because we have hope, we are to be holy.
Things/questions to consider with your child:
1. Continue reading 1 Peter together.
2. How would you act differently if the Bible weren't true? Why?
3. What hope do we have for eternity? How do we have that?
4. What does it mean to be holy?
5. What are some ways that it is easy to get mixed up in the world?
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