Life at Another Level

One Year Bible
New Testament passage for Friday, November 23, 2012: I Peter 1:13-2:10

¹³ Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, ¹⁵ but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ since it is written,“You shall be holy, for I am holy.”  I Peter 1:13-16 (ESV)

"Holiness" is a word that sounds very RELIGIOUS. It sounds austere and brings up images of a cloistered, over-serious life. But this is not the biblical picture of holiness. I believe that Jesus was the most joyful person on the planet. Even in the midst of bearing all our miseries, yet He remained full of joy and peace (see Heb. 12:1).

The call to holiness is a call to "sober-mindedness" but it is a sombreness that is FULL OF HOPE. There is a kind of seriousness that produces the greatest happiness and joy. Holiness means living at another level. We no longer lower ourselves to the muck and mire of a roller-coaster world blown about by conflicting passions.

Our minds can play tricks on us. We get a bad thought in our head and it can undermine all confidence and peace. Your mind can kill your communion with God if you let it. You will chase ever stray wisp of the wind. That's no way to live. It will drive you crazy.

So, Peter tells us: GET YOUR THINKING STRAIGHT. Get your mind full of God's Word and God's hope. Then you will find that you are living at a higher level. That level makes you look more like the GOD WHO CREATED YOU. It is called holiness.