1 Peter 1:13-16
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.”
Say there are two comrades who decided to open a carpentry shop. Knowing nothing about the trade, each would need to study, learn, and perfect their skills in woodwork in order to run a successful business. Before they studied carpentry, however, they decided to attempt to make a table.
Unsurprisingly, the finished product had a top that was lopsided, feet that were too short and the wood wasn’t sanded well-enough. Of course, the carpenters would take careful note of their mistakes. After studying carpentry, when the time came to build another table, it would be somewhat ridiculous if they ignored their notes made the same errors they did the first time.
In today’s scripture passage Peter tells us to learn from our mistakes; from our former way of life before we knew Christ (v.14). In striving to follow God we should not act or speak or think the way we did before we knew Christ: when we lived in ignorance. Before a person has the knowledge of holy living he is not trying to accomplish holiness. The standard of doing the right thing and following God’s commands does not make sense to someone who has never heard them before (thus it is our job to tell them of the gospel!). Once we claim the Bible as truth, however, we are made aware of these standards. Thus we need to live each day to try and follow Christ more and more and not revert back to unholy living before we knew to the importance of trying to be more like Christ.
As we long to be holy (v.15) we need to take steps to accomplish this great goal: preparing our minds, reading the word, working on the fruits of the Spirit, and setting our sights on Christ. Just as the carpenters needed to prepare by studying and learning the trade, so we must strive for holiness.
(Courtesy of C. Himes)
Youth Department