Meditation
Friday of Easter Week Three’s message is simple. Be holy, as Christ was holy.
As most ‘simple’ instructions, the actual implementation is challenging and often not accomplished. I always think of the commercial Cher made for a physical fitness company, “Let’s face it, if being fit could come in a bottle, everyone would look great.”
The simple words, ‘Be fit’ are clearly difficult for many, else we wouldn’t have so many injuries, obesity and lack of activity.
Holiness. What does it involve? Peter mentions self-control, hope, obedience and Christ-like. These are different from the words in the dictionaries which suggest saintly, devout, sacred, godly, but those are a bit nebulous as to what it means, since the perceptions of what constitutes ‘saintly’ can differ greatly. For a high school student, a saint is someone who turns in homework consistently. For the Catholic church, it may require two miracles.
So, what is Peter trying to address?
I submit that he is continuing to encourage the fledgling Christians, who were suffering persecution. Persecution for doing the mission correctly. These were already people who were devout and sharing the gospel.
But what is the typical reaction when we are accused of doing wrong, when we were doing a good thing? We get defensive. We protest and sometimes get belligerent.
Jesus stood before Pilate and was accused falsely of horrendous things. His job was to be the sacrifice. He remained silent. The accusers would not have understood or changed their minds. It would have been a waste.
Peter said ‘self-control’ when he mentioned what Christians should be doing.
How many times have public Christians been caught in excesses? Not showing self-control but showing that they succumbed to the temptations of the world—greed, sexual misconduct, false speech, abuse of others and caring more for the self than the mission of God.
It is easier to take short cuts than it is to develop a spiritual muscle of self-discipline and obedience, following Christ’s example. Unlike saintly, we can see obedience and self-discipline in more measurable increments. I can measure whether I was self-disciplined in my study, in my fitness—physically, spiritually, mentally and relationally.
If I was self-disciplined in physical fitness, I can measure it in what I ate and what exercises I did. If I was self-disiciplined in my study, I can measure it in what I studied—how many pages I read, wrote, and/or learned.
Obedience. The speed limit said 55 mph/85kph and I went 56 mph/86kph. Was I obedient? No. So many people make excuses that it wasn’t really ‘breaking’ the law—everyone does it—so it doesn’t count. But it isn’t obedience.
We must be honest with ourselves. Peter was doing that for the early church.
If the early Christians were going through trying times of suffering for witnessing about Jesus, Peter was giving pragmatic directions. He said be holy, but he gave specific measurable goals for people to do to make it happen. Because if one practiced self-discipline and obedience, one could be prepared for the work that needed to be done.
Someone who must give a speech will do better if they practice it in front of a mirror several times first. Practice doing what is required and the results will improve.
The truth is: Christians will always be persecuted for doing good. (Remember the ‘no good deed will go unpunished’?) But if we are going to be persecuted for sharing the good news, we can prepare for that by being holy—self-controlled and obedient. We must set goals for ourselves to practice the behaviors of holiness—to what God wants for us to do in every day life. And Peter notes that grace will be given to empower the doers to accomplish this task.
Holiness: A simple task that is hard to do and made simple by God empowering us to achieve it.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.




Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen







Season of Easter Bible Readings
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19;Isaiah 25:1-5;1 Peter 1:8b-12&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;NIV (multiple versions)





Friday of Easter Week Three

Psalm 116:1-4 12-19
Isaiah 26:1-4
1 Peter 1:13-16


Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating


Jonah 2:2
“In my distress, O Lord, I called to you, and you answered me. From deep in the world of the dead I cried for help, and you heard me.”




Single Bible Study chapter to study


1 Peter 1:13-16
King James Version (KJV)
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

OBSERVE:

Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.

2.

3.

INTERPRETATION:

What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?




APPLY:

Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.


Prayer of Encouragement

Almighty God. We fail you at so many levels, so we ask forgiveness. Empower us to be holy—self-controlled and obedient to your will. We want to do what is best. We need your grace. In Jesus name, Amen







Conclusion
Friday of Easter Week Three measured the steps to be holy. The Old Testament Psalmist and prophet, Isaiah, address the issue of doing the things that please God and God will keep us in ‘perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee.’
That is the same thing that Peter highlights when he challenged his persecuted Christians to be holy. He wanted them to be ready for all the things that might happen.
Around the world, there are people for whom these challenges are very real. Persecution of Christians found with Bibles or preaching the good news occurs. In this day and age. Even though more civilized cultures protect people’s right to free speech or believe as they please. Yet even among local communities there are people who will berate for preaching the good news. I was asked to not use the Bible to explain why things should be done and I moved on.
Bottom line? We must all work to be holy. To be self-controlled, obedient and Christ-like.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.