1 Peter 1: 13-17

Good morning oh wonderful children of God.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!  Jesu Jevu!

   Let us look at 1 Peter 1:
¹³ Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
¹⁴ As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
¹⁵ But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
¹⁶ Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
¹⁷ And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
     Okay, gear up tator-chip!  Let us begin.  We should live the way God wants us to, not just physically with actions, but with our minds as well.  Be sober does not mean get off the booze, it means to be able to show self control, discipline and not go off on a tangent.  Last part of 13 Peter is telling us about the grace we are afforded because of Jesus Christ.  Earlier verses alluded to this via the prophets, now he is saying, "look at what you have through Jesus Christ".  Grace is not for just your past, but your past, your present, and your future.  Because of this grace we have hope. Yea!
14 - Being obedient; a chore in itself. The world casts many "lusts" before us, but we are not to follow these lusts, as we once did when we were ignorant of the salvation and grace through Jesus Christ.  Lusts may be alcohol, drugs, material things, lusting after the opposite sex, coveting what someone else has. But, we must be obedient and give these up.  Why?
     15- Because, as Jesus called you to be in the fold of Christians, he has called you to be holy.  This thought of holy is not to be holy as Jesus was/is; but to be set apart from the 'world' and walk in faith-separate from the world.
  16- God wants us to share in being apart from the world and share in his holiness.  Wow! Someone, a supernatural spirit that is alive and really cares for YOU!
    17- and when we call on the Father, HE shows NO FAVORTISM, but will judge us according to what we have done.  So, when it says pass the time of your sojourning here in fear - it does not mean shaking in your boots as if fear of a burglar, murderer, or mean person.  Fear here means in reverence of, to want to please, and have "fear" (a conscience) and it bothers you that you do not please or be obedient.
     God is not a politician or business maneuvering to get his/her way. God is just and fair.  All we have to do is be obedient. Love you all.
Soli Deo Gloria
Johnny