Read the passage several times through, slowly and prayerfully. It might help to use your imagination to picture the scene. At the end of the text you will find helpful background information in our ‘Setting the Scene’ section.

As you read, look out for shockers and blockers.

Shockers – a phrase, word, image or something from the text that resonates, stands out or connects with you.

Blockers – something from the text that raises questions for you.

1 Peter 1.13–25

So then, have your minds ready for action. Keep alert and set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant. Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. The scripture says, “Be holy because I am holy.”

You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him. For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw. He had been chosen by God before the creation of the world and was revealed in these last days for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God.

Now that by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves and have come to have a sincere love for other believers, love one another earnestly with all your heart. For through the living and eternal word of God you have been born again as the children of a parent who is immortal, not mortal. As the scripture says,

“All human beings are like grass, and all their glory is like wild flowers.The grass withers, and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

This word is the Good News that was proclaimed to you.

Good News Bible (GNB)

Setting the scene:

This letter was written to a scattered group of Christians trying to work out how to live out their faith in a hostile environment.
Peter knows how easy it is to lose spiritual focus. The call to be ‘have your minds ready for action’ encourages Christians not to let their minds get lazy and wander from Christ towards sinful and worldly ways of thinking and acting.
Being holy and authentic is about more than just avoiding sin; it’s also about cultivating our delight in God and welcoming the Holy Spirit into every part of our lives. The promise that he will always be with us, helps us to live this new, authentic, holy life today.
Peter believes that growth in holiness will lead to purity and a deeper love amongst Christians.

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