1 Peter 1:17 KJV [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:”      The word “sojourn” means “a temporary stay”. We must remember that our life here on earth is brief. It is like grass that withers away or a vapor that is here one moment and gone the next. We must cast our eyes on another horizon. Dear reader, look beyond this temporary stay to eternity, where time is no more.      We will find that this verse is full …

1 Peter 1:16 KJV [16] “because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”      This verse is a direct quote from Leviticus 11:44. It is interesting that the Lord takes an Old Testament command and makes it a New Testament principle. The world we live in today is perversely sinful. The wicked receive praise, and the righteous suffer persecution. So these questions are sometimes asked, “Why should I strive to live a holy life?” “Does anyone care if I try to live cleanly  before God and others?” “What’s wrong with me living worldly like everyone else?” Our …

1 Peter 1:15 KJV [15] “but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;”      To say that holiness doesn’t matter is both unbiblical and unreasonable. We understand that there is positional holiness that can only come through the righteousness of Christ. His blood makes us holy in the eyes of God. We know man could never achieve holiness by his own ability. It took the Lord Jesus to save us and His blood to cleanse us to have positional holiness.      However, we have a command to be holy in all …

1 Peter 1:14 KJV [14] “as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:”      God wants His children to be concerned with obedience to His will. He wants our lives consumed with obedience. He wants our obedience to be a delight, not a chore. It should make us happy to please our Heavenly Father through obedience. We are to be controlled by obedience. In other words, He wants us to base every decision in life depending on whether it will lead us down a path of obedience or disobedience to God’s Word. That should always …

1 Peter 1:13 KJV [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;”      The Greek word for “gird up” here is anazōnnumi. This word only occurs here in the Scriptures. It reveals the culture of the Bible world when people wore long, flowing garments. They would gather them up into their girdle while working or when they were going on a journey.      Remember, when the Israelites ate the Passover in Egypt, the Lord gave them a …

1 Peter 1:12 KJV [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.”      In the Old Testament, the prophets wrote of the grace and the glory that would come. However, they lacked understanding of much of the prophesies that they proclaimed. They knew that most of the events would not come to pass in their day. These men faithfully …

1 Peter 1:11 KJV  [11] “searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”      We have grace today, grace to come, and glory to follow. The early church rejoiced in the truth that a brighter day was coming. They were suffering for their faith, but they would not suffer forever. Their hope was beyond this world!         Just as Christ was glorified on resurrection morning after His death, so will we be glorified on that great resurrection …

1 Peter 1:10 KJV [10] “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:”      We know that salvation is by grace through faith. God has shown grace to sinners by giving His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. I’m thankful for the amazing grace of God that reaches down and rescues the lost from the fiery pit of Hell. If you know the saving grace of God, then you have a reason to rejoice.      Not only do we rejoice about the grace received …

1 Peter 1:9 KJV [9] “receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”       What should be the goal of our faith? That is the question we will deal with in this devotional. Just because someone has faith does not always mean he is saved. You must place your faith in the only One who is able to deliver you. Faith in religion or good works cannot save you. The goal of faith is to bring us to salvation. That is what Peter means when he emphasizes “the end of your faith.” Faith in Christ Jesus is …

1 Peter 1:8 KJV [8] “whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”       The word “unspeakable” only occurs here and speaks of a profound and overwhelming joy that we cannot express in words. It is a joy that overflows the believer’s heart and life. It is a joy that is full of glory. The Christian life is a life that you must experience. We can try to express to sinners why we love Him so much, but they will never understand until they …