Today we continue in 1 Peter in chapter one.
Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy. " (1:14-16)
Remember, we have been hearing about being an alien people who live as though we are under the rule of the one we call Jesus, the Christ. Well, like any aliens there are things that distinguish them among the crowd. Sometimes it is their language or their food or their community traditions. Well, for the followers of Jesus, we are being reminded that our "differences" are one that are taken on. It is a discipline that begins to shape how we interact within our own congregations but it is also one that can be noticed by others as we live in the world around us. The notion of being "holy" should not frighten us off because it sounds "better than thou." It does not mean that. It is probably better to see it as being a people who are guided - who have the Lord of Life holding our hand and showing us the way of life that is shaped by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. That kind of life will be different from the standard mode of operation of our world. We are invited to go along this way of Jesus - this set apart way - this unconformist way.
Connection: There are so many opportunities within one day to not conform to the way things are done around us. With that being the case, that means that there are many ways to walk into the domain of holiness. Think mercy, justice, loving kindness, forgiveness, reconciliation, self-sacrifice...because all of these are alien terms.
Blessed are you, O God, and holy is your name. Within the ordinary events of our lives, you call us to follow you alone. It is not always easy and it often means we must indeed live as aliens. When that is difficult for us, we ask that your Spirit of Life nurture us and sustain us in your ways. Amen.
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