Living a Disciplined Life in Christ

I Peter 1:9–16
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Charles Spurgeon used to say, “Little faith will take your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your soul.” Peter urged his readers to apply love, faith and rejoicing so they could experience some of heaven’s glory now amid suffering. Obedience to God amid trials prepares us for glory. Both suffering and glory were foretold. It has been written that glory cannot be experienced apart from suffering (Luke 18:31-33). Peter’s readers needed encouragement and a reminder of the certainty of God’s promises. The same is true of us today. In times of trial, we can find all that we need for encourage­ment and strength in the Bible. Angels have an interest in God’s workings among men even though they have no part in the plan of salvation (v. 12; Luke 15:10).  

In Peter’s day, people wore long flowing robes that hindered their movement. When they wanted to do strenuous activity, they would tuck the hem of their robes into their belt. This was called “girding up” or in today’s language “rolling up their sleeves.” Christians should live lives of discipline and self-control that are governed by their thought lives (v. 13). It is not easy to maintain a holy walk in this world (v. 14). The anti-God atmosphere around us is always trying to press us into its mold. God has insisted that His people be holy because He is holy (Lev. 11:44). Unbeliever are ignorant of God and His standards.  Any holi­ness that we have in character and conduct must be received from Him (vv. 15-16). Many of our problems as a Christian stem from our measuring our self by the wrong standard. The right standard is the Lord and not some other Christian. The indwelling Holy Spirit changes us on the inside as well as on the outside in our daily practice.

Application

What does it mean to be holy? How has my life been more holy or less holy in the last year? In what area of my life do I have the most problem with holiness? What can I do to bring this part of my life under God’s control?