You Shall Be Holy

The People of God Set Priorities
Hope and Confidence Come from God
Trust God's Promises

1 Peter 1:13-21

The Message

A Future in God

^13-16 So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

¹⁷ You call out to God for help and he helps—he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living.
^18-21 Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.

 
For Reflection

Jesus arrives when you get that nagging feeling that something is missing.  Jesus arrives when you decide to do something that you did not ever expect you would do.  Jesus arrives when you comfort the troubled.  Jesus arrives when you help the helpless. Jesus arrives when you give hope to the hopeless.  In short Jesus arrives when you, who are God-centered live the life God intended for all humankind, warts and all. 

 

Pray

that you will travel life's often times rocky road with a deep consciousness of God.  Pray that Christ's sacrifice was not in vain and that you, by living your common life, will bring uncommon  good news of salvation to all with whom you interact.