Scripture
"But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.' " (1 Peter 1:15-16)
Observation
As Peter begins his letter he praises God for the living hope offered through His grace and implores us to live and be holy. We all will and have fallen short and nothing about the human spirit alone is whole or holy, yet Peter writes “be holy in all you do.” There’s a ton of human junk we need to work through, but God calls us through the apostle to be Holy. We just need to cling to the living hope and remember He created us in His image. Thus, if He is holy, we can be holy.
Application
Each day I desire to live a holy life, then as soon as my attention is swayed off the Savior, the impurities start to build. Like sweat on a hot day, I’m then overcome with a need to seek shade and refreshment the only way I know how. What Peter is saying here is that I need to first seek His kingdom and His righteousness. Seek Him! God has sent the Holy Spirit for these times when I want to run to my oasis, the quick fix, the fast reward. It’s in this moment when I need to drop to my knees and seek Him and His holiness rather than run to what I think we’ll ease the pain.
To do this consistently it’ll take:
- Humility – My strength alone will not move me toward holiness. When I am weak He is made strong.
- Surrender – My will alone will not move me toward holiness. I can be holy because He is holy and His mercy endures forever.
- Obedience – My plans alone will not move me toward holiness. When I lean in and listen when the noise is the loudest, My God is faithful to deliver.
Prayer
Jesus help. I want to be pure and holy not for my sake but to bring perfect glory to Your name. I seek Your holiness and Your Holy Spirit to clean my impurities, knowing it’s only through You that I will heal and move forward.
