Verse: 1 Peter 1:13-16
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.”

Series: 1 Peter

Devotion:
Do you tend to be an optimist or a pessimist? Do you naturally assume the best, or the worst?

This verse is a good one for the times we are living in. Peter encourages us to not live with our heads in the clouds, or in the sand. He doesn’t want us to act like the world’s problems aren’t a big deal, and he also doesn’t want us to hide from them or to even assume the worst.

He, instead, encourages us to be alert – to pay attention – to stay awake. Don’t ignore the problems of the world you live in. Don’t put your head in the sand and hope they go away. And he also says to be sober – to have a sound mind as we look at the world – to look for truth and not gossip or fear. And as we look at the world we live in, he says we can do so with hope. He calls us to be a people of hope. And that hope isn’t based on our confidence in what people can do, or institutions can do, but on what Christ can do.

In our country right now, this is very practical advice. It is easy to feel out of control or afraid, or to buy into half-truths to feed our narratives. But as Christians we are called to be clear minded. To not be ruled by fear. To instead be a people of truth and hope who can face these unsettling times with a deep, knowing confidence that we follow One who is greater than all of this.

He ends this little passage inviting us to be holy as God is holy. To be holy is to be set apart. We don’t have to be part of the fear or the fighting – we can be set apart. We can shine like lights in a confused and dark world as we hold onto hope in Christ above all else. As we hold onto his peace above all else. As we hold onto his truth above all else.

A people of hope, peace, truth, and love will surely stand out like a light these days. Let’s embrace our “set apartness” in the hope of Jesus Christ. The world could use that right now.

Prayer
Thank you that even when the world is a scary place, you are a shelter of hope and peace. I place my confidence in you alone.

Author: Christian Dunn