Daily Thought

Today we are challenged to live holy (set apart) lives. God is holy, therefore He calls us to be holy, 1. 15, 16. We will never be as holy as He is; nevertheless, we are called upon progressively to become holy in all areas of our lives. Peter reveals the mind we must cultivate in the pursuit of holiness:

A disciplined mind, v. 13. There is no room for loose thinking; therefore, we must exercise self-control and focus our minds on the hope that is before us of Christ’s return to reign.

An obedient mind, vv. 14-16. As members of a family, we are called to obedience. We should not be marked by the desires that we displayed in the days when we were ignorant of God.

A reverent mind, vv. 17-21. We should not presume upon our relationship with the Father. He is impartial in His judgements and therefore we must show Him the reverence that His holiness demands. An appreciation of the cost of our redemption, i. e., ‘the precious blood of Christ’, v. 19, should lead us to fear the Lord. It is humbling to remember that He was marked out beforehand as the One who would be revealed, die, and be raised up, so that our ‘faith and hope might be in God’, v. 21.

A loving mind, 1. 22 - 2. 3. Both the Holy Sprit and the word of God were instrumental in our salvation, and one of the evidences that we are born again is our love for the brethren. It is a love that ought to be sincere and fervent. However, we must lay aside the attitudes that hinder its display, and ‘as newborn babes, desire the sincere (unadulterated) milk of the word’, 2. 2.

A priestly mind, 2. 4-10. The grace of God made each one of us priests at new birth, vv. 5, 9. The centre of our priesthood is Jesus Christ, who is the living stone, the chief corner stone and the head (top) stone. It is through Him that we have become living stones, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for possession, and the people of God. As a holy priesthood we are called to offer up spiritual sacrifices, e. g., our praise, Heb. 13. 15; our bodies, Rom. 12. 1; our prayers, Ps. 141. 2; our giving, Phil. 4. 18. As a royal priesthood we should show forth the Lord’s praises to others.