Letter to God's Elect - a Study in 1 Peter 1 - Navaz DCruzSample

HOW THEN SHALL WE LIVE?

The first 12 verses are just salutations declaring the letter's intent and clarifying to whom this letter is being addressed. They are the elect, the strangers, the ones with living hope who have an inheritance that cannot be corrupted. They are the ones whose faith is being tested by fire and, though they have not seen Jesus in the flesh, have put their faith in Him.

Verse 13 Therefore, with alert and fully sober minds, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming.

We now come to the meat of the letter. Peter encourages the reader to have an alert mind. He repeats this warning in 1 Pet 5:8. Be alert and have a sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

An alert mind is discerning, wise, and knows good from evil (Rom 12:2). A sober mind What is the opposite of sober? Drunk. A drunk person is not in his senses, can be tricked, and has no control over their body, emotions, thoughts, etc. Sometimes, we are so drunk with the pleasures of this world that clouds are thinking, and we cannot see right from wrong.

Since they are such a privileged lot, they must live in a certain way. They must guard their minds, take a serious view of life, and put their hope only in Jesus. All of this applies to us today as well.

Reflections

• In the recent past, have you been aware of how the devil has tried to distract you?
• Do you live with eternity in your heart?
• Head, Heart, Hands. What truth can you rejoice in today? What is the Holy Spirit putting His figure upon? How are you going to act upon that conviction?

I pray that you have found answers to your pain and the purpose for which you have been elected and chosen by God; to be His very own. God bless you as you persevere in your walk of faith.

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