"..shape your lives to become.." - 1 Peter 1:14-16 (TPT)

The above is one of those portions of Scripture where Peter is pointing his finger at himself, he denied Jesus three times, as well as went back to his old trade of a fisherman when Jesus died even though the Lord told him directly that he would be a fisher of men. 

Peter is speaking from personal experience here, in some ways of giving himself (and the reader) personal affirmation to not return to the former ways before we knew Christ Jesus which penned us in and keep us from living in His freedom.

An example of that would be trusting in our efforts to find fulfillment and sustenance in what we do rather than trusting in the Lord's provision. 

Peter was a man of extremes; he was either all in or out; he didn't want to be half-hearted in anything that he did, so he committed himself to follow the Lord devotedly. Peter loved Jesus, which even lead him into extravagance at times, with an energetic disposition which showed itself sometimes as boldness and temper. 

His temperament was choleric, and he quickly passed from one extreme to another. The contrast between Peter and the other apostles―impulsive, unsteadfast, slow of heart to understand the mysteries of the kingdom―and the same apostle as he meets us in the Acts―firm and courageous, ready to go to prison and death, the preacher of the faith, the interpreter of Scripture is one of the most convincing proofs of the power of Christ's resurrection and the mighty working of the Holy Spirit. 

In our day, we might consider Peter to be slightly on the autism spectrum, which doesn't detract from his ministry in any way but sheds light on the person and his personality. 

Peter was a flawed man, much like all of us; we are all flawed and need a savior to take what we have and make something beautiful out of our lives. 

When we are challenged by the gospel to follow Jesus, we see it a bit different than Peter did, for Peter physically lived and walked with Jesus, which may have been difficult for him on a personal level. 

Jesus has called us to walk with Him by faith, which in some ways is far better, for we can trust the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus and His ways to us, which is much more intimate than personal experience which is temporal.

Peter makes the broad statement that we are "..obedient children," there is a specific word being used here in the Greek translation, which is "Teknon" which denotes a fully formed and fashioned son or daughter. 

"Teknon" is a child that is a pupil trained for some service, much like an apprentice who is trained by his father to carry on the family business. Also, "Teknon" denotes earned identity, much like the son or daughter who now bears or inherits the family name or crest. 

As Peter goes on, he speaks in the negative, “Never again shape your lives by the desires that you followed when you didn’t know better.” He is saying, "don't let yourself follow the old ways of the past which has no life" like the ways of concupiscence. But rather, "shape your lives to become like the Holy One who called you." 

The word "become" is the Greek word "ginomai" which has a specific meaning; it means "come into existence," another definition is "come upon the stage," or "appear in history" like the Holy One who called you. Peter is saying we have a unique place in history to become known as Jesus was known. 

We have an opportunity to 'be made complete' as followers of Jesus Christ. As we appear on the world stage, we demonstrate the holiness of God for we are connected to Him through an intimate faith which is the message for all people everywhere. 

What is amazing about this is this isn't about the destination of "getting to heaven," this is about the journey of being changed and conformed into the mind of Christ. 

"I am the Lord your God, and you must keep yourselves holy because I am holy. “You are to be holy because I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44 (GNT)

Peter quotes from Leviticus 11:44, where God makes the statement that we are to be holy as He is holy.                        

Everything about God is holy. True holiness includes justice, mercy, truth, and righteousness. To be holy is to be devoted to God in all that we do, demonstrating who he is to the world. Holiness surrounds God's throne and we are seated with Him in heavenly places.

"He raised us up with Christ the exalted One, and we ascended with him into the glorious perfection and authority of the heavenly realm, for we are now co-seated as one with Christ!" Ephesians 2:6 (TPT)

The Hebrew concept of holiness is "set apart"; that is, we are a people set apart for God, even as God is "set apart" from all other gods.  Our God has a specific set of unique attributes that only He can produce which makes Him Holy. 

Grace has imbedded holiness into our lives, yet we are to still make the right choices and to yield to Christ and God's Word as the Holy Spirit lives in us. 

Holiness is not merely actions we perform, but what we absorb and demonstrate as we live our lives in God's presence. Christ is our holiness.

"For it is not from man that we draw our life but from God as we are being joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. And now he is our God-given wisdom, our virtue, our holiness, and our redemption." 1 Corinthians 1:30 (TPT)

One of the things I have said before, which bears repeating, "This journey in Christ is our destination!"

Be Blessed;

Stephen Barnett