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Together in Christ: 'Refined and Redefined' — 1 Peter 1:15-16 Saturday, December 7, 2024 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy." — 1 Peter 1:15-16 NLT Key Thought... While we have focused on all sorts of relationships, we have repeatedly returned to our central orientating relationship with God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When our relationship with God is right, He aligns us and guides us in all other relationships. He is holy. That means He is wholly different from anything earthbound, perishable, mundane, cheap, transitory, or selfish. He is Yahweh, the great I Am, Who describes Himself this way: "I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come — the Almighty One." [1] He operates out of the constants of His nature: righteous character, gracious compassion, unfailing love, and faithfulness. As followers of Christ, God has made us holy and called us to be like Him as we live in a world that needs Him. Peter wrote to believers and reminded them of their identity throughout his letter that we call 1 Peter. He wrote this letter to Christians under the threat of persecution and martyrdom. Their holiness, however, was not just a character quality; it was the foundation for their mission to the world of darkness that often abused them. In the face of oppressive evil and brutal hostility, they were to be light in the darkness and salt to prevent the spread of evil's decay, as Jesus said. [2] Godlikeness — our call to holiness — is the foundation for our life of mission. The people of the world are often caught in all that is earthbound, perishable, mundane, cheap, transitory, or selfish. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. [3] God is holy, full of mercy, love, and grace. He has made us holy so we can share His mercy, love, and grace with a world that desperately needs them. [4] Let's be God's chosen people in all that we do and in how we live with the people around us. [1] Revelation 1:8. See also, Exodus 3:13-15. [2] Matthew 5:13-16. [3] 1 Peter 2:9. [4] The truth of today's message is rooted in Jesus' challenging commands about loving our enemies and praying for those who mistreat us — Matthew 5:43-48. Today's Prayer Father, I know that You are holy. Your righteousness, compassion, unfailing love, and faithfulness have blessed me, cleansed me, and made me Your child. I ask You, Holy Spirit, to inspire and empower me to be holy and redemptive in all I do with those around me. Even in the face of hostility, dear Father, I want to treat others as Jesus did, never compromising the truth but always seeking to bring others to discover Your grace. In Jesus' name, I ask for Your help to be Your person in my world. Amen. Related Scripture Readings Exodus 20:1-17 Matthew 5:1-16