October 25, 2022

Passage Read: 1 Peter 1-2
Meditation Verses: 1:13-18

Thought

Peter wants me to be holy, just as He who called me is holy. To do that, he calls me to set my hope perfectly on the grace to be given me at Christ's return, and to spend my days in fear of Him who judges justly without favoritism. He does not want me walking in old ways, in ways of the flesh and sin, in ways of my forefathers who didn't know God, or didn't obey Him. Peter wants me walking in God's ways of holiness and righteousness, and somehow both hope and fear should motivate me. God judges justly, but grace will be given to me when Jesus returns. So on the one hand I have no need to fear, but on the other I should be living in fear! Or perhaps, only if I live in fear today do I have any right to hope for grace at Jesus' return.

Application

It's almost as if he's not certain of my salvation, though he addresses this letter to the elect. In truth, none of us knows for sure if we are saved until we endure to the end in hope and obedience, until we hold fast to the end the Gospel of our salvation. Of course, we can have great confidence in our salvation by how it produces hope in us of the grace to be given us at Christ's return, and also by the fear it produces in us of the judgment of God. By how the Gospel produces in us a desire and longing to please the Lord and conform our lifestyle to His holy standards. Hope in Christ and reverence for the Father.