CHRISTLIKE CONDUCT
So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy."
1 Peter 1:13-16 (NLT)
Holy. It's a word we say and sing a lot in church. But what does it really mean? By definition, it means to be set apart. Another word we might use is sacred. We are called to be holy, just as the God we love and serve is holy. That means that we are set apart for Him. But what does that practically look like?
First things first—we're not perfect in our righteousness. You can't be. I can't be. We must stand clothed in the perfection of Jesus our Savior. His righteousness is imputed to us as believers. This is called justification. It's not something that we do ourselves—this is the work of Jesus.
So how do we live holy lives, set apart for God? Well after first acknowledging that this is not something we accomplish by our own power, Peter has some great advice for us. He says we must prepare our minds and exercise self-control. Are you guarding your mind? Or is every social media post, news report and passing word from someone in your life passing through your mind freely?
As for self-control, this goes beyond just being able to say no to dessert after dinner. Paul actually tells us that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. We need the supernatural intervention of God's Holy Spirit to help us grow in our self-discipline and self-control. When we can grow in this way, it enables us to recognize the traps of the world (and the enemy). We don't want to go back to the way we used to live. We want to move forward, growing as disciples.
APPLICATION: First and foremost, stop and thank Jesus for His accomplished work in His perfect life, death and resurrection. Then, ask God to work through His Spirit to help you mature and grow. Consider how you might guard your heart and mind in a world that is constantly on the offensive.
PRAYER: Almighty God, thank You for what You accomplished through Your Son Jesus. Thank You that in Him I am sanctified, justified and redeemed. Help me to live a holy life, just as You are holy. In His name, amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?