Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 13

January 13;      I Peter 1:15;       222/260(III);        ‘Be Holy’

1 Peter 1:15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

We could look at this verse two ways.  We could look at it as a mandate from the Lord for us to live right.  In a very real sense that is religion, requiring us to do something.  I believe with all my heart that the Lord is encouraging us to be holy so that our lives could reflect Him.  What an honor to be like the Lord.  The Bible teaches us that we are made in His image (Genesis 1:26).  We are told that Jesus is the Head of the church and we are His body (Ephesians 1). We are told that Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches (John 15).  What is in the Vine (holiness) is in the branches as well.  I choose to look at this verse as a privilege that I have to conduct my life so that others would see Jesus Christ in me.  I am surely not perfect, but the desire of my heart is to conduct myself in a manner that would reflect Jesus.  The Apostle Paul encourages us to imitate him as he imitates Jesus.  That must mean there were qualities in the life of Paul that exemplified Jesus.  If Paul could do this, so can we.  He is good company to be in.  Verse 14 of this chapter teaches that we are not to continue in the lusts we did, in ignorance before we were born again.  We may not have known better before Jesus became our Lord, but now we do.  Therefore, since we are no longer ignorant of our previous behavior and now know that it is wrong, we can and should live in a holy manner that reflects our Lord Jesus.  Doing this brings you dignity, respect and honor.