1 Peter 1:12-25

1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
1:13 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;
1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

12
We kind of jumped into the middle of this, but the “unto whom” are the Old Testament prophets. This is saying that those prophets, and even the angels in Heaven, didn’t fully know what the messages meant that God had given them. Yet, they trusted God and passed it on to us. Some of them spoke prophesy that came to pass many thousands of years ago. Some gave prophesy to testify as to who Jesus is, and some spoke into times yet to come. Together they show us that God’s word is to be trusted and will not fail.

All God has ever asked of man is that we believe His word. When we do that, we allow Him to work in our lives. In ages to come, we will be on display in Heaven as a testament of His grace and power. He is able to save even wicked, weak little creatures like us when we trust in His word.

Ephesians
2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

13
Just because He has done all the work doesn’t mean we don’t have work to do. God has a purpose in all things, including in each and every one of our lives. We have to read and study His word and pray that He will guide us in His plan.

Titus
2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Once we’re saved, the Holy Spirit will begin to clean, guide and teach us. We have to make use of what limited time we have here to learn all we can. Just like earthly children, the more we can learn by hearing, the less we have to be corrected and learn the hard way.

14
It doesn’t matter where we were when God found us. What matters is where He is leading us.

Ephesians
4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

We have to let go of the past. We can learn from our old mistakes, but we aren’t to live in them. God has forgiven us, so we have to lay those things aside and live today with the goal of becoming what God has in mind for us tomorrow.

15
Conversation here means your entire lifestyle. We should try to do everything in a way that will please God. Most people at least say they believe that nothing in too big for God, but nothing is too small for Him either. As they say “the devil is in the details”. How we act and live in the smallest details of our lives builds up to effect everything and everyone around us.

Ephesians
4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

We can’t hold on to anger and bitterness. It is a poison in our souls, and it will contaminate everything in our lives. God can help us lay that aside.

16
We can never approach the holiness of God, but when we let the love of Christ work in, on and through us, we can be better every day.

Romans
3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

The only true righteousness we have, we have inherited from Jesus. We have to set aside any vain pride that tells us we can be good enough in ourselves. Then we can let go and let God work in us.

17
We can’t be saved by following some set of rules. God didn’t give the Law to save men’s souls. He gave it to show us that we can never measure up on our own and we need a savior.

Romans
2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

We can’t just read the Bible as words on a page. The word has to get into our hearts so we can know when God is speaking to us, and obey.

18
If all you’re doing is following rules as a show for yourself and others, then you haven’t gained a thing. You have to accept that God has spoken to man through His word, and believe what He has said.

1 Samuel
15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

19
Faith means you believe God’s word. The first thing He tells us is that we’re all sinners and have fallen short. We have to offer a sacrifice, but we don’t have anything we can offer. We have to start with faith in Jesus. Only His sacrifice can pay the price for our sins.

Ephesians
5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

20
Even though the prophets and angels didn’t have any idea, Jesus and His sacrifice was part of the plan from before time began. Jesus knew when He came, but offered Himself willingly, because He loves every one of us that much.

John
12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

21
Now, faith in God also means faith in Jesus and His accomplished work. Only His sacrifice was sufficient to pay the price for our sins. By accepting His sacrifice for us, we make peace with God and accept His free gift of salvation.

Romans
5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Many look with fear at the end of times as shown in Revelation or when we look at the end of our own lives. The unknown is scary, but we can take comfort in knowing, God is already there waiting for us, and Jesus has prepared the way. Then we can say as John did “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

22
God loves us so much that Jesus came and died for us. He wants us all to love and care for our brothers and sisters here in the same way.

John
13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Jesus gave His life for us in love. Very few of us will be faced with the actual choice of giving our lives for one another. However, we can set aside our own comfort or goals or pride in order to show our love for someone else. That’s how the world is supposed to see that we’re different; because we put others ahead of ourselves.

23
We have to plant the seed of the word of God in our hearts. We have to soften that soil so it can take root. Then the water and light of God’s love will help us grow.

Matthew
13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

When you’re planting a garden, sometimes the soil is tough and your hoe just bounces off. You have to keep working at it until you break through that hard crusty layer and reach the good ground. Just because you try to read, study and pray and you don’t see any effect, don’t give up. The more of the word of God you take into your mind, the more it will begin to work on your heart and soul.

24
This world is not our home. One day, we will leave. Eventually, even the very earth is going to removed and replaced. Anything we build that only lives here is going to fade away some day. We have to invest our time and energy into the things that are permanent. The only things that we know are permanent are God, our own souls and the souls of those around us. Listen to God and let Him use you to plant seeds that will grow into true fruit.

2 Peter
3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Whether He comes for us one at a time or all at once, we don’t know when our time here will be done. We should want to be found faithfully watching and working when that time comes.

25
God and His word don’t change. He has always asked the same thing of us all from Adam and Eve on down. He wants us to believe His word and trust Him enough to do what He says, even when it doesn’t make sense to us. God knows all things from the beginning and is working on fulfilling His plans. We have a choice. We can believe God and follow what He says, or we can choose to try and go our own way. We have a free choice, but God’s plan will be accomplished and we will serve our part in it.

Isaiah
55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.