1 Peter 1:13-16
As I read this week’s text, which begins with admonitions to get our minds focused in the right direction, I remembered my many years as a college and graduate student. The same thing happened at the opening of each semester. I would go to the first session of each class, get the syllabus for each course, carry them to my room and look at what was going to be required of me and then… panic!! “This can’t be done!” I would think.
I believe the worst beginning to a semester was my first as a doctoral student. I went to a Patristics class. There were 14 other students enrolled and the professor, Dr. Joseph Lienhard, walked into the room. He saw the size of this unusually large doctoral class and then his opening comment was, “ That which is common is vile. I apply that statement to the giving of A’s. Don’t expect one.” Then he went on for the rest if the hour about how difficult the class would be, how much we would have to read, how many papers we would write, how we would have to work in original sources in the original languages, etc. etc. I almost quit – but I didn’t. The next day, when I went to class, only 6 students returned. Dr. Lienhard walked in, saw only 6 of us and said, “There. This is the right size for a doctoral course. Now, here’s the real syllabus!”
The panic students feel after getting all their assignments even has a label: syllabus shock. But, over the years, I learned to deal with it pretty well. I would take all the syllabi home, and tell myself to calm down. I would remember that the Lord had called me to this place and that he surely was sufficient for this kind of burden. Then I would take out my calendar and begin soberly to plot the assignments one-by-one on the dates due – and note on my calendar when I would begin the work on each assignment. If I saw my schedule was too busy with other things during a time when weighty assignments were due, I would cancel some things. By doing that, I actually thrived in 13 years of post-high school education.
And that brings us to 1 Peter 1:13-16. When tough times come, many times we become anxious – maybe even tending toward becoming frantic. Things seem out of control. Then, we show up at church and the pastor reads a passage like 1 Peter 1:3-12 telling us to praise God because he gives us a living hope in this world. God gives us something that nothing in all creation can take away. And, we haven’t earned it. It’s all God’s grace. We read that everything that all the great prophets were searching for and all that the angels have longed to understand has come to us through faith in Jesus. We belong to God’s family. We have learned that Jesus can be trusted so we love him. Then, the service ends – the closing song is sung – the benediction pronounced and we have to go back to the trials. What should we do?
Notice the word “therefore” in v. 13. What is it there for? It’s clear that the Bible expects us to leave a time with our gracious Father ready to live changed lives. It says that based on God’s grace toward us and presence with us, we will be different from before. How? The rest of 1 Peter will talk about the specifics -- but let’s see where it all begins:
Step #1: Clear your mind and focus it on what God is doing in your life.
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 (1:13).
Here, like almost everywhere in the Bible, the key to living the way we are supposed to live begins with our minds. What does Peter tell us we need?
We need alert minds. The first phrase, i.e., “with minds that are alert” is a sports metaphor. It's of a runner hitching up his robe or garment into his belt to give him greater mobility when he has to run. It’s like a tennis player knowing he has a championship point. We focus our minds clearly on the place we want to hit the serve, the way the opponent usually returns a serve to that location, the toss, the follow through… You know that a big point like this is no time for fuzzy thinking.
So, I think Peter is saying something like this with his sports metaphor: "You've lived life. You know the temptations and battles out there where you are going. You know yourself and where you tend to fall short. Now, roll up your sleeves and get ready for what’s ahead. You're not going to overcome those areas where you fall short unless you consider how you should live, commit yourself to it, and plan for that new race you run each day." The beginning point for godly living is mental readiness.
See also that we need disciplined minds--"be fully sober" the second phrase in v. 13 says. This word refers to exactly what some may fear it refers to – not being intoxicated. It refers to the fact that too much drinking leads to being distracted. The first sense to be affected by too much drinking is the hearing. We aren’t aware of the dangers that are out of sight. Then, inhibitions are lost. Energy is lost because the alcohol is a depressant. The point is this: We dare not let anything in this world distract us from living God’s way.
We all have patterns and appetites and passions that make powerful demands on us. But, we also have been given, as creatures made in God’s image, the ability to discipline our minds and decide how we will react to things. In v. 13, the Bible is indicating that we must want to think soberly and clearly about the issues we must address and the temptations we expect we will face when we leave our time of worship.
When baseball player, Pete Rose, proved to have serious gambling, alcohol and sex addictions, his wife said he was a victim. She said he did not have the ability to be different. “Pete cannot change,” she said. But, here in the Bible, we are told that the issue for Christians is not so much whether we can live God’s way but whether we want to. God has made us so that our minds can be made to be alert and can be disciplined. This is a part of what God’s grace enables us to do.
And those choices lead us to having God-centered minds--"set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming." This living hope that we’re alive to according to 1:3 – that someday by God’s grace we will be free from temptation, free from trials, and conformed to the image of Christ by God’s grace – now is seen to have practical implications. This is now a command – we are to set that hope on the gift that God has brought into our lives. The Bible is saying clearly what we already know, i.e.: we cannot live for God in this world on our own. If we shoot for only what human power can achieve, we will despair of living moral lives. We'll keep falling short until we give up. But grace means that God will forgive us even when we don't deserve it. And it means He will help! Though we have failed again and again -- He will help if only we turn fully to Him. Notice at the end of v. 13 that God’s grace is said to be something that God keeps giving until Christ comes and completes his work.
That means many things – but note this: It proclaims a Jesus-follower is one who knows that yesterday's failures don't have to be wallowed in. We don’t have to live in shame and guilt for what happened in our pasts. Today is a new day to live with God's help in the way we were meant to live. We set our minds on that. We trust Him to forgive yesterday, help today, because he will conform us to Christ’s image in a tomorrow known only to him. Christians are people who don't live in the past or bound by past mistakes. No, we learn from the past but the failure is dealt with so that we are right with God. Because of that we can live for today and the future.
So we have to begin by agreeing that what we are meant to be is what God's Word calls us to be – and to set our minds on that. We are to have the hope that comes from knowing that God’s power is shielding us (1:5) while we are still in this world. At the same time, we set our minds fully on God and his ways. We commit to go from our times of meeting with him with a readiness to trust God and to live for him. That's what the Bible calls us all to. In v. 15, we will be told to be holy as God is holy. But that sort of life won't descend on us out of the blue so that suddenly we're wearing a halo everywhere we go. No, God gives us a responsibility and the first step in our obedience as God’s children is to set our minds on God and his ways.
So, be careful of what you put into your minds; of what you long for with your minds. Prepare with your minds to live morally in those very situations that often bring failure. That means: Listen carefully to the message in your church, worship regularly in church, learn God’s Word in daily times with God, and stay away from letting your mind drift into wrong places. Then, focus your mind often on how you can be more of what God made you to be as you live life in your work place, family, and school. That’s the first step. Then what?
Step #2: Know that you don’t have to respond in the same way you did before you knew God.
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance (1:14).
This is family language – “obedient children” so we need to notice that as Peter was writing to a society in which the family was central to almost everything – just like those of you who have grown up in Asian cultures now understand well. We are born again into God’s eternal and unexpected family. Before Jesus came into our lives, we were “ignorant” to God; meaning that we did not know God. Now, we are not only alive to God, we also know him as Father. And because we know Him and trust Him, we live with a commitment to our Father’s morals -- even when the standards of all those around us are different from God’s. According to v. 14 "conform to the evil desires" that is the pattern of our world -- even though the desires we avoid may seem so “normal” to the people of the world. When we lives the way God calls us to live in his Word, it makes us different from the world. But, to those not alive to God, these “evil desires” seems normal. We think, “Why not make a decision that could harm the world’s ecology by potentially allowing tens of thousands of barrel’s of oil spill into the gulf,” if we believe that material gain is the “be all” of life. Why not be unfaithful in a relationship if pleasure in the center of my life.” But, we say no to such thinking because we are alive to God and know that his ways are better than the world’s.
Whenever I've had chances to speak with students about morality or ethics that flow from God’s Word rather than from dominant philosophies in society, pretty soon this sort of comment is made: "But isn't it abnormal to live like that? To work hard every day as if we are working for God (Epheisans6), to stay away from deception, to engage in sex only in marriage, to make business decision that bring blessing to all parties, etc., etc. Such self-denial is not natural or abnormal."
And that comment, made so often, raises an interesting point, i.e., how do you define what is normal and what isn't normal with regard to human behavior? Usually we think, "What is natural is the way most people live." But is it?
H.G. Wells wrote a story that took up this question called The Country of the Blind. It tells of a man named Nunez who somehow became a part of an isolated tribe of people who had never been able to see. Of course, Nunez could see. Now, in such a setting, which is natural: to be sighted or blind? Well, it was Nunez who was viewed as being the abnormal one. They even viewed him as being a danger to their society and diagnosed him as being mentally sick. To cure him they decided to simply remove those soft impressions in his head that were causing the problems and thus to make him "natural" again. "We know how to do that with medical science!", one says. "Thank God for science!" says another. "Let's tell Nunez. He'll be so grateful."
That story is a great piece of satire because it shows us how foolish it is to establish what is right and normal by taking an average of the people at large. But suppose that the people at large have somehow become all abnormal in their behavior. What if there are areas in which a whole society becomes ethically blind? In such a case, the truly normal person would be regarded as strange and might become an outcast or even be laughed at or persecuted.
So how do we determine what we were really meant to be--the norm we were meant to live out? In other words, is there any way of knowing what we were meant to be like as opposed to what we are generally observed to be like? And the Bible says that there is a way of knowing how we are meant to live. We know God as Father and are learning to trust him. As we saw in Genesis 1-2, the Bible simply says that we were made in the image of God. We were made to reflect God’s morals and His character. For that reason, the way we were meant to live is nothing less than God-like behavior.
And the tragedy of the human race, according to the Bible, is that our whole race has indeed become ethically blind. None of us are wholly what we should be. Much of the behavior that many, many people engage in and think of as normal is nothing of the sort. We were all made to mirror the values of God but we all have become sinners -- that's the Biblical message. And it doesn't take much intelligence to say that this is so. But the problem is that because people who still do not know God live the opposite way from the way that God would have them to live, we often say that the sin is what is normal and our Father’s way is weird.
But sin is not normal in terms of what we were created to be. It hurts us and hurts those around. When we are unfaithful, or dishonest, or selfish, or foul-mouthed and angry, it is abnormal -- it is sub-human. And if we will live as we were meant to live, that sin must be forgiven and we must begin to live differently. And that, of course, is what the NT message is all about. Jesus died on the cross in our place so that we can be forgiven. The Bible is given to us and we gather to study it so we can learn how we are meant to live. And God gives His Spirit to us to give us the strength to live as He created us to live. When we become Christians therefore, we don't remain “abnormal” – in terms of how our Creator means for us to live. No, to the contrary, we begin to become what we were created to be in the first place.
That surely is what vv.14-16 is all about. We are simply being told to be what we were meant to be by our creator. So make note of it: There is nothing odd or boring or life-killing about wanting to live life God's way. The opposite is true. Only when we make that commitment will we begin to see how the pieces fit. If we get that straight, we will understand life and ourselves much better.
So, after we’ve met with God in worship or prayer, we go into the world knowing we don’t have to live as we would if we were ignorant of God. Then what?
Step #3: Make a commitment to grow in the ways of your Heavenly Father and thereby to glorify him.
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."
What I’m calling for here is leaving worship times with an intentional commitment to trust and obey our Heavenly Father. Remember again that the context is family language. I’m quite sure that the Bible is not telling us we have to be “holy” (or, separate from, different from the world) in every way God is. We are not going to be creatures without a beginning, unlimited in power, perfect in knowledge, etc. etc. Moreover, the Bible is not saying we will be different from the world in every possible way! We will still breathe, eat, go to school, enjoy music, etc. etc.
But, it is telling us that the standard for how we make decisions, how we treat others, how we face trials is not going to be anything other than God. We will long to make our Father known in the world. We will set our minds on “glorifying God,” i.e., making his character and qualities known to the world through our lives. God’s faithfulness in relationships should be seen in our relationships. God’s mercy should be seen through the mercy we show. God’s forgiveness should be made known through the way we forgive. And, in trials, God’s confidence that he is in control and will use all things for good, should be seen in our confidence in the midst of trials. We will set our minds on the hope that will be completed when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Even churchgoers have sometimes ignored this call to “holiness.” We think, “This can’t be for me. I’m no Billy Graham – no Mother Teresa!” Anyway, the idea is widespread that a holy person is a very rare and unusual person; an exception. And really, deep down, we think that those rare ones are probably not all that saintly either and the world loves to draw our attention to those religious leaders who have fallen. The bottom line is this." Because of that, we miss the beauty of this teaching. The average Christian views holiness as being too hard to attain and others simply view the whole thing as being thoroughly undesirable.
Let me show you again that this is a command, not a suggestion but a command, "Just as the one who called you is holy, you be holy in all you do." That's what God commands for all his children. Oh no--what are we going to do? Rip this out of the Bible? Think, "He can't really want that so I won't take it seriously?”
Or maybe we've misunderstood. Maybe our concept of what it means to be a committed Christian, a saintly Christian, has been warped somehow. Maybe what God is asking us to become in such a command is not so weird, not so boring, not so impossible as what we've thought. After all, Jesus said that He had not come to steal, kill or destroy but to give us life to the full. He said that when we live as He intended us to live, only then do we really live! And, in fact, even though many say that they don't want to be overly-religious, when they see a committed Christian with values in place, having joy in the midst of problems, being willing to apologize when we've made mistakes and forgive when others apologize, people are drawn to that, aren't they? They see in us the hope given us by our Father.
This past Tuesday, I became aware yet again of my need to follow the guidance this passage gives us. The situation with my parents became almost overwhelming to me. My Mom was continuing to have her mental condition deteriorate. My Dad was finding it increasingly hard even to be with her alone. I was on the phone and heard her screaming at my Dad and at the nurse who was trying to help her. The finances did not seem to be coming together. I could go on and on.
But, then I came into the church and pulled up this text again. I was not in a state of mind to do sermon preparation – let me confess that. But, my Greek New Testament was open – so I looked at it again. And, I prayed, “Father, what are you saying to me?” And, this sermon is what I think he was saying. Greg, stop for a moment and get your out-of-control mind and heart focused on me again. Am I good? Have I showed you my love? Am I at work in your life? Do you believe that? If so, don’t you know that I love your parents more than you do. An, I am doing my work in them too.” I set my mind on that. I engaged in an “intentional act of faith.”
Then, I asked God what he would have me do?” I read verse 14 and it was if God was saying, “You don’t have to panic. You don’t have to scream and give up as if all is hopeless.” So, I prayed and tried to consider soberly what the best options might be. Then, I called my Dad, still not knowing how all would work out but absolutely confident that it will – I have a new hope.
I won’t pretend that all is well – in the ways the world looks at things. But things are well with our souls. And I know that God’s grace is at work – and will until he completes his work when Jesus Christ is revealed. And whatever you are facing, I know this message is as much for you as it is for me.
Step #1: Clear your mind and focus it on what God is doing in your life.
Step #2: Know that you don’t have to respond in the same way you did before you knew God.
Step #3: Make a commitment to grow in the ways of your Heavenly Father and thereby to glorify him.
We can show the world our Father’s holiness through our trust of him. Because:
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea…
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns shields with fire.
"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46
