Holy Living
Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct. —1 Peter 1:15
READ: 1 Peter 1:13-25
REFLECT: I have great respect for my spiritual heritage. I grew up in a faith tradition that was part of the holiness movement. As a youth, I thought holy living meant dressing a certain way and following a set of rules—no smoking or drinking, no movies or dances, no playing cards, and no swearing.
As I continued in my faith journey, my understanding of God’s invitation to holy living changed. I came to believe that holiness is demonstrated most clearly in the way I relate to God and others. The way I treat my spouse and children is more important than whether I wear plain clothes or a head covering. If I show integrity and honesty in my work, I am conducting myself in a holy way. When I take the Sabbath as a day of rest, I am honoring God and living a holy life. Choosing to live a simple lifestyle so I have resources to share with others is a holy way of living.
Holiness is not a dour, grim-faced determination to do religious things that drain all enjoyment out of life. God is a delightfully joyful God who invites us to join in that joy by imitating God’s holy ways of love and righteousness. As Eugene Peterson translates it in The Message, “As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness” (v. 15).
—Sandi Hannigan Marr
RESPOND: Holy God, draw me into your way of living, a life blazing with holiness. May the joy I find in living a holy life be attractive to others.