Be All That You Should Be
I Peter 1:13-17
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From 1980 until 2001 "Be All That You Can Be" was the slogan used by the army in its recruiting. Once an individual enlists in the Army they are sent to "Basic Training" aka "Boot Camp" in order to be prepared to "Be All That They Can Be". Basic training is designed to prepare recruits physically, mentally and emotionally for their service to the USA. They are taught things such as Discipline, time management, teamwork, perseverance and leadership. Basic Training is a very intense experience. But this training is not intended to “break” recruits. In fact, the combination of physical training, field exercises and classroom time is designed to make individuals strong and capable.
Once we become Christians we face certain circumstances and situations that will develop us Mentally, Physically, Emotionally and most importantly Spiritually. Though we may not enjoy some of the difficulties that we face in life, God uses them to train us, prepare us and to make us into what He would have us to be. This is what Paul meant when he said "...our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17)
The American solder who goes through combat training is tested and pushed to the limit. But this is necessary because he must be ready for the battle that he will face! The same is true for us, we are trained and prepared so that we will be ready to fight the battle that is to come in the Christian life! That is the context of what we read in 1 Peter Chapter 1. Peter opened this chapter addressing the great benefits that these believers enjoyed as a result of their position "in Christ". They were "called and chosen by God" , They possessed hope in Christ, There was an inheritance that was "reserved in Heaven for them" , He also stated that they were "kept by the power of God". Verses 10-12 cover the greatness of their salvation. But along with the benefits Peter also addressed the struggles that they were facing. Verse 6 tells us that they were in "heaviness" and facing "manifold temptations". Peter followed this up with some encouragement in verse 7 ...the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
As we arrive in verses 13-17 there is a shift in Peter's focus. Everything he had said up to this point has been stating facts concerning salvation and life in Christ. Now he begins to give commands to the Christians. To continue with our military theme, it is as if Peter was a commanding officer giving orders to his men. And the commands that were given to these first century Christians apply to us today. I would like to look at this portion of scripture and consider this thought "Be All That You Should Be!"
So far in this study we have seen the great benefits of salvation through Christ. Now we will see our responsibilities and duties as Christians. These duties are not conditions of our salvation rather they are consequences of it. So what must we do to "Be All That We Should Be?" We must Be Prepared, Be Focused, Be Obedient, Be Steadfast, and Be Holy "
Verse 13 tells us that:
I. The Christian Should Be Prepared - v13a Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind...be sober...
In ancient times people wore long flowing tunics. Around the tunic in the midsection they would wear a girdle (belt). These long garments would get in the way when fighting or working. When the Hebrews went to battle with the Philistines, the men would lift the hem of their tunic up and tuck it into their girdle. This provided more freedom of movement. And the garment would no longer be a hindrance in the midst of hard labor or battle. When Peter says “gird up the loins of your mind” he is saying to "get ready for battle".
Christians must be prepared mentally. We must remove anything from our minds that would hinder our duty! We must be focused on the task at hand. Remember what Paul said in - Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. - We must focus our thoughts on those things that allow us to obey God and serve God with complete, unhindered devotion. Peter goes on to say that we are to "Be sober". Sober - {G} (nēphō - nay'-fo) To be vigilant, watching. prepared. - "calm and collected in spirit, to be temperate, circumspect,". This carries the idea of having mental control. There are things that intoxicate the mind Worry, Anger, Bitterness, Jealousy and Resentment. When we dwell on these things (and many others) it clouds our mind and interferes with our judgment. If you try to fight a battle when your mind is focused on something else you will be overtaken by the enemy! We are to remove those things from our mind that will distract us from the task at hand. This theme is echoed in - Titus 2:12 (we should deny) ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
There was a man who went out one night and got drunk. When he came home his face was covered with bumps and scratches because he had gotten into a fight. He knew that if he went to bed like that he would surly get in trouble with his wife. So he sneaks into the bathroom, staggers around for a while, finds the bandages and fixes himself up. He went to bed smiling at the thought that he’d pulled one over on his wife. When morning came, he opens his eyes to find his wife standing over him. “You were drunk last night weren’t you?” “No honey. No way. I wasn’t” “Well,” she replied, “If you weren’t, then who put band-aids all over the bathroom mirror.”
Just as his wife wasn't fooled our enemy is not fooled when we are not "sober and vigilant". When he sees our minds clouded with the distractions of this world he will attack! This is why Peter will tell us later in this epistle to "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" - 1 Peter 5:8
If we are going to "Be All That We Should Be" we must BE SOBER!!! Continuing on in verse 13 we see that:
II. The Christian Should Be Focused - v13c and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Peter says that we should look forward to the gracious salvation that we will receive when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. - This is our great hope as Christians. In fact he Bible calls is our "blessed hope" in - Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
- Again I remind you that the people this epistle was addressed to were enduring great sufferings. This hope was an incentive for them to endure the great trials they were facing. That is our incentive to press on today! We are living in the here and now but we do so anticipating the future. We are looking forward to the consummation of our salvation at the Second Coming of Christ! In this one verse we see what we should remove from our minds. And we also see what we are to have on our minds!!
If we are going to "Be All That We Should Be" we must BE FOCUSED! Moving into verse 14 we will see that:
III. The Christian Should Be Obedient - v14a As obedient children...
Peter is writing to the Christians in Asia Minor. As Christians they were the CHILDREN OF GOD! We are to live as obedient children. We do this by Obeying God's commands, Looking to Him for guidance and direction, Submitting to His will and Having confidence in Him at all times. Childlike obedience begins with "childlike faith". Jesus call's us to place child like faith in Him. "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Mark 10:15
When I was a child, we would be riding in the car and Daddy would see me do something in the back seat while he was driving. And I would get in trouble and then ask, how did you know that I did that. And he convinced me that he had eyes in the back of his head.
When we have childlike faith in our Heavenly Father, it produces obedience
Many times we seem to be surprised when lost people do wicked things? We should not be surprised that "dead men stink?" We look at the wretchedness of the society that we live in and we see Homosexuality, Idolatry, Drunkenness, Drug abuse Adultery, Child molestation, Stealing Violence and Murder and we are amazed at how wicked things are. You must understand. the lost man is not going to strive to be holy. And he isn't required to!!! But as Children of God...WE ARE!!! We see this in verse 16 "Be ye holy; for I am holy". And by His grace and through His spirit it is possible for the child of God to do just that. But before we can be Holy, we must become as obedient children of God.
Do you really want to "Be All That You Should Be?" Then you must BE OBEDIENT!! As we continue on (still in verse 14) we see that:
IV. The Christian Should Be Steadfast - v14b not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
This means do not return to your old ways. Do not go back to a life that is spent satisfying your fleshly desires. Peter calls it "our former lusts". This does not just refer to sexual lust...But any natural desire that pulls us away from holiness (which is the theme of this portion of scripture) These "former lusts" are the evil desires and behavior that once marked our lives. Notice the phrase "in your ignorance". There was a time when we did not know any better. But now we are the children of God....We have been taught and trained.Now we know better...We know the ways of the Lord!!! Our Father leads and guides us into His perfect will for our lives.
Peter is telling us to "refuse to return to the old life". When we live as obedient children we will not conform to our former lusts. Consider what Paul said in - Colossians 3:8 ¶But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
If you do not "gird up the lions of our mind"... If you are not living "soberly" ...When you do not live focused on the return of our Savior... If you are not acting as "obedient children"....Then you can rest assured you will return to the "former lusts in your ignorance"
Maybe you already have. Perhaps you made a profession of faith and began to walk with the Lord. The people around you saw an amazing transformation in your life. You stopped going to the places you used to go. You stopped running with the crowd that you used to run with. You stopped doing the things that you once did. For a time your life was focused on Christ. You studied, You prayed, You worshipped, You witnessed, And you were growing and maturing in the faith. But something happened... and now You have gone back to what is comfortable, You have gone back to what is easy, You have gone back to what you know...YOU HAVE GONE BACK TO SIN!! As Peter puts in "you have returned to your former lusts"
Someone said - You can take an old hog and, scrub her up and hose her down. And as soon as you turn her loose she is going to go right back into the mud. Because that is what she knows, it is what she likes and it is what she wants. - Your flesh still wants what it has always wanted. And if you do not take the proper steps to guard against the flesh you will do like the pig and revert right back to where you were!! Peter says - Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. (1 Peter 1:14 NLT)
In order to "Be All That We Should Be" we must BE STEADFAST! In verse 15 we see the result that will come when we are prepared, focused, obedient and steadfast. Notice:
V. The Christian Should Be Holy - v15 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.
We are "children of God". Because of this relationship we should bear the characteristics of our Father. And Peter says that "God our Father is holy, so we should be holy in all of our conduct."
God's Holiness is on display throughout His Word. Moses saw the Holiness of God - Exodus 3:2 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn." 4 So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." 5 Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." 6 Moreover He said, "I am the God of your father--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. ---------- John saw the Holiness of God - Revelation 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. ............v8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."
God is, always has been and always will be Holy!! One day we will stand before our Holy Father and give an account for our lives. We are to live each day pursuing holiness in this life.
A college freshman was on a first date with a senior class member. The young woman was raised in a Christian home where she was raised with strict morals. Her date was not. Throughout the evening, the young man kept hounding her to do things she knew were wrong and contrary to her Christian upbringing. Frustrated, the young man lamented, “What is wrong with you. No one will see you. Who is it going to hurt? His date responded, I am thinking of my father. The boy asked, Are you afraid he will hurt you? No, responded the young woman, I am afraid I will hurt him.
We are to live with fear and reverence concerning our Heavenly Father. Holiness means we have such a fellowship with your Father that your concern is not what is HE going to do to me...rather what are you doing to him? - Understand that these are not Peter's words... Peter is repeating what the Lord said in - Leviticus 11:44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy:
This command was addressed at first to the Israelites, But it equally applies to Christians, because we too are the people of God. We are to live our lives after the example given to us by our Heavenly Father.
A father told his young son that it was time to get ready for Sunday School. They would be leaving in just a few minutes. You know how little boys can be. They are inquisitive. The boy asked his dad, "Did you go to Sunday School when you were a boy?" The father gladly answered, “Well yes I did." The boy looked disappointed as he said, "It probably won’t do me any good either!"
Too many Christians live one way on Sunday and are completely different the rest of the week. This is not HOLINESS!! The Lord spoke of this in - Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me...
Holy lives identify us as God's Children. Years ago we rented a house and there was a tree in the yard
and I was not sure what kind it was. I thought that it was an Apple tree but I was not sure. Well, when spring time came around the tree began to bloom and later I knew that it was a Pear tree. How did I know this...BECAUSE IT HAD PEARS ON IT! The fruit that the tree bears is unmistakable evidence of what kind it is. And the way for us to be identified with our Heavenly Father is to produce the fruit of holiness. Holiness is not an unattainable goal We know this because God told us to "be holy". He would never command us to do something if it were impossible. This "Holiness" will never be achieved through human effort, good works or moral character. If we are to become Holy it will be produced by the Spirit that lives within us.
God wants us to "Be All That We Should Be" And what we "should be" is Holy!! We can reach this goal... and to do so we must Be Prepared, Be Focused, Be Obedient, and Be Steadfast
Are you "sober" and watching? Have you "girded up the loins of your mind"? Are you living in the here and know while anticipating the return of Christ? Could your life be described as one that is lived as "an obedient child of God"? Or would you have to say that you have "returned to your former lusts"
Maybe you have turned back to the old life. I want you to know that there is hope for you! God can turns things around in your life. And He is calling you to return unto Him today! If you are His child then His command still stands "Be ye Holy, for I am holy?"
Maybe you are here and you are not a child of God. That could change today as well. There is an opportunity for you to be adopted into the family of God...RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!!! In John 3:3 Jesus said ... Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. - That opportunity is available for you today. You can be born again. And each person who is born again has the opportunity and the responsibility to "Be All That They Should Be"
