Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Opening Scripture

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:7-8,12

Opening Prayer

Most Merciful God, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbors as myself. I am truly sorry, and I humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me, that I may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 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.”

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Reflection  

Based on everything Peter has shared to this point – about God’s mercy, new birth, living hope, protected inheritance, and special insight – he challenges his listeners to take their calling seriously. “Place your hope totally on Christ’s return.”

The Greek in verse 13 says, “therefore, having girded up the loins of your mind and being sober-minded set your hope fully upon the grace being brought to you in the revelation of Jesus Christ.” In Peter’s context, “gird up your loins” meant to tie your outer garment around your waist and get to work. The imperative is to sacrifice fashion for function. Get after it!

Peter implores Christians to base their personal identity and present behavior on the ultimate goal and unseen realities of God’s kingdom. This involves mental clarity, spiritual alertness, and good judgment. Peter offers a good reason for maintaining this posture at the end of his letter. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

As members of God’s family, under the authority of our loving Heavenly Father, we are to live “as obedient children.” Jesus repeatedly taught his disciples that, in this family of faith, love equals obedience.

“If you love me you will obey what I command. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (John 14 selected).

Peter gives two commands in today’s passage: have hope and be holy. The call to be “holy” is a call to sanctification – set apartness to God, purity of intent, Spirit-empowered living – that is distinct from the world. Peter places great emphasis on godly “conduct” (anastrophē), variously translated behavior, lifestyle, conversation, and manner of life. God is holy, and He cannot coexist in fellowship with willful evil.

“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:6-7).

Peter continues his letter by touching on several familiar themes. He reminds his listeners that they are foreigners-exiles-aliens-sojourners-strangers in this world. They have been eternally redeemed by the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus. The mystery of God’s salvation plan has been revealed to them in a special way. They have been born again and therefore should obey the truth and live pure lives of sincere love for one another.

Peter closes this section by highlighting the transformation that has taken place in the lives of these believers. Interestingly, he doesn’t name the wicked vices often associated with paganism: idolatry, sexual immorality, drunkenness, and greed. Peter calls out the “community-destroying” sins that are often tolerated or excused among God’s people: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. “It’s the small foxes that ruin the vineyard” (Song of Songs 2:15). Unity in community is essential for the Church. Bitterness, broken trust, jealousy, and gossip undermine that unity. The answer is to “grow up” by constantly consuming pure spiritual nourishment.

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Christian

No one drifts toward holiness. Sanctification requires intentional effort. Peter challenges us to be “sober-minded” because it’s so easy to become “intoxicated” by the pull of our old nature, the cares and concerns of life, and the distractions of technology.

Jesus addressed this one time when speaking to a large crowd by the lake. “The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful” (Matthew 13:20-22).

Following The Jesus Way, being shaped by the Spirit and embracing a life of intentional discipleship, requires a complete reorientation of life! It involves a daily dying to self and continuous identification with the Lord Jesus.

I love Eugene Peterson’s translation of 1 Peter 1:14-16 in The Message. “So roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, 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.’”

A Christian’s living hope, based on their new birth, should result in a lifestyle of holiness. Once you’ve “tasted that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8), experiencing His mercy and forgiveness, His majesty and authority, His truth and provision, you desire to know Him better and follow Him more closely.

Are you living as an “obedient child” with your Heavenly Father?

Are you seeking to be holy and sanctified, set apart for God, with purity of intent, empowered by the Spirit, and distinct from the world?

What do you need to confess or claim today?

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!