The Scope Of Personal Holiness

"Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.' " - 1 Peter 1:10-16 ESV

There really is so much subtle truth in these passages in 1 Peter.

It is not uncommon to lack details about the future. The prophets of old saw God's grace but they saw it in the context of their own lives. They had needs and desires but they placed their hope in the right place. They knew that when Messiah was revealed there would be a big change and that it would affect them.

The prophets had no way of seeing how their faith affected future generations. Adam and Eve had no way of knowing the true scope of what would happen due to a few bad decisions in the garden either.

If we lack vision of what the scope of our faith is then it is very possible we could fall back into being 'conformed to the passions of our former ignorance.' On the other hand if we prepare our minds for action in a sober way it will only be because grace is personal and seen in a redemptive vision that transcends us.

If grace is just for me then I will just live my life as I want to but If what God has given me is really not just for me but for others then our calling give us a clarity that has keeping power. Redemption will no longer be solely about 'my life' and 'my needs', although that is part of it, but about the 'revealing of Christ' to others.

Yes, When Christ splits the Eastern sky with His return many mysteries will all suddenly make sense but today Christ may just use us to split someone's eastern sky open in a personal way. Being prepared for that kind of action with Christ set before our faces will keep us from living conformed to the world and walking on the upper highway of transformation.

Circumstances only ever tell a partial picture. Jesus and His redemptive plan is where we find fullness. I want those heavy weights balancing my day to day decisions.

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