seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Peter 1:13 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. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,
“All people are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
And this is the word that was preached to you.
Here's the link to the commentary I read.I've been thinking of my mom while reading this. I've been thinking how she always expected me to "show off" my "good behavior". I was the oldest. I was the example. My mom would be judged on my behavior when she wasn't around to "smack the fire out of" me if I screwed up. Appearances were important to my mom.
I think I know what caused it. My mom was the second oldest child of seven kids. My grandad was a twin, the second of thirteen kids. Before that, I don't know how many kids there were in my great granddad's family but I have been told it was more than thirteen.... as a matter of fact, ... four brothers came to the US from Ireland, back in 1591, so they had to have come from a slew of kids. The whole family didn't move... there are still Athey's in Ireland.
My mom said it... over and over... with no birth control "kids were always everywhere". My mom was thrilled when Roe came along.
With all those kids.... Behavior is important!
Back in the 70's I had two girls and a boy. They would gang up on me! Seriously.... They bragged about it later. I'm smiling now, but back then... it was a drag. For instance, when I was putting them to bed one night... The girls wanted their baby brother to sleep with them. They were toddlers, all of them. So, I said OK.... and then when I went to turn out the light.... The girls wanted the light off, but my son wanted the lights on. When I said "Ok, you go back to your own room and I'll leave your night light on.".... "Nooooo" the girls chimed in.... "We want the light on"... at which point my son wailed out "no I want the light off". Geeze.... As I recall, I left a nightlight on for all of them. My kids are a direct expression of what kind of mom I was. They all turned out fabulous. In spite of me.
We are God's children. Jesus invited us to join His family. God knew He was going to do it. God knows everything before anyone else. After all, He is God. We are God's children, and we should act like it. God is judged by non-believers based on the behavior of His Children here on earth.
Jesus said there are only two Commandments in this family. One.... We are called to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul. Two... We are called to love one another as we would like to be loved.
Do you know who is Christian and who is not? We're supposed to love one another! How can we love our brothers and sisters if we don't know which humans are Christians and which are not? There are humans who were born Jewish, but they are Christians. There are people who are from Muslim families, who are Christian. If you were in a stadium of humans, could you pick out the Christians? I doubt it... Why waste your time? Just be good to everyone... as you wish they would all be good to you... and you won't leave out a single brother or sister.
My online Bible titled these verses "Be Holy". That's a rough task to tackle. Just understanding the meaning of the word "Holy" could take a lifetime.
I would say....
You are a Child of God.
Behave!
