The word "therefore" is a key word in Scripture. It's a call to action based on a truth that's just been outlined. And so the section from verse 13 is all about how to live as born-again children of God.
Expecting grace
Read 1 Peter 1 v 13
- - Therefore...what should we do?
- - Where does Peter say all of a Christian's hope should be?
The key word is “fully”. Not moderately, holding some of our life back so we can cover all the bases. “Fully” means completely, saying a wholehearted, radical, risk-taking “yes” to Christ.
Why is it wise to do that? Because Jesus is coming back. We’re banking on that. And when He comes, He will bring grace. He’ll show us more grace than we’ve ever known. He’ll make us fully alive, fully free, fully us. God isn’t ordering us to get excited. He’s promising us something we can’t help but get excited about.
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PRAY
This may seem too much. We may struggle to be wholehearted towards God. Of course we do—we’re sinners! We need an attitude change, each day.
Thank God that His Son will return to bring you more grace than you can imagine. Ask God to make that truth so real to you that you will live radically for Him, willing to leave or lose anything else. Tell Him how you’re struggling.
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Imitating God
Read verses 14-17
- - What is wonderful about how Christians are described in verse 14?
- - What are we not to do anymore (v 14)?
- - What are we to do, and why (v 15-16)?
We've been reborn into God's family. Let's show the family likeness--purity, distintiveness.
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APPLY
- - How have you been growing in holiness in the last few months?
- - Where do you need to stop conforming to "evil desires," which aren't God-like?
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Relying on the Lamb
Read verses 18-21
- - What could not free us from an "empty way of life" (v 18)?
- - What did (v 19)?
We need to hear this again and again. Money never buys us joy. It never ransoms us from futility. It never purchases us eternity. Only Jesus' sacrificial blood does that. When our hope wanders... when our lives are not holy... we trust in the precious blood of Christ, shed in our place, to free us from what we deserve so we can look forward to race.
Let the glorious truths of v 19 fuel your prayers of thanks now, and throughout your day.
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This devotional is taken from Explore—a daily Bible-reading devotional from The Good Book Company which enables you to engage with Scripture and which will encourage, equip and inspire you to live for Christ. Explore features contributions from pastors such as Dr Timothy Keller, Mike McKinley and Tim Chester.
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