1 Peter 1:13-22

13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope
fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient
children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
15But just as he who called you is holy, so; 16for it is written: “Be holy, because
I am holy.”
 17Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your
lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with
perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty
way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious
blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before
the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified
him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
 22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have
sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

Meditation:
1. Peter’s call to holiness can be confusing and intimidating.  We are often
bombarded by the media depicting “holy” people as stiff, sexuality repressed,
boring, lifeless, self-righteous, judgemental, and deeply hypocritical.  Yet the
picture we see in the Bible is that to be holy is to be transformed into Christ’s
image.
2. While Jesus was on earth, sinful people flocked to him, while self-righteous
folk tended to avoid an encounter.  Peter experienced firsthand Christ’s
penetrating, loving holiness, and even after his greatest mistakes he couldn’t
keep away from Jesus.  How are holiness and love related?  Peter further
instructed: “have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply,
from the heart”.
3. Pray.  Ask God to teach me to live an authentic holy life that is different and
separated from the world.

Personal Note:
Holiness means being set apart to be more like Christ.  God is love.  Jesus Christ is God.  A person who is holy is also a loving person.  I can love sincerely when I have experience the holiness of God's love.

At times, I feel tired from caring and loving for others.  Coming back to God in prayer and resting in Him is the only way to keep on serving and loving others.