July 24
“Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:13-16)
Today we will wrap up our discussion of this verse and our discussion of the REPLACE fleshly thoughts with spiritual thoughts principle. “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance…” We spoke yesterday of obedience and asked the question are we really desiring to do all the Lord commands in His Word and obey the voice of the Spirit? When we aren’t walking by the Spirit, we digress into conformity to our former lusts and give our old nature control over us again. We either move forward or drift backwards. We can’t just stand still in our spiritual walks. Obeying all things written in the Word of God and obeying the Spirit’s reminders, warnings, and promptings (which are always consistent with that Word and never in violation of it) is the way to move forward, grow, and maintain the victory over the flesh.
Those of us who are accustomed to pleasing ourselves and making our own decisions as to what we will or will not do may have a more difficult time learning obedience. But obedience is to a large extent what being transformed and living the victorious Christian life boils down to. There are many commands in scripture that will keep us from sin if we will only obey them. The problem is that we would rather do what we want to do, and as a result, we stumble. If you struggle with obedience, ask the Lord regularly, daily at least, to give you a spirit of humility and obedience.
The goal of this obedience is holiness. God wants us to be like Him. Our problem is that we like to be ourselves too much. We like our secret (or not so secret) sins. We like to be told we are good when we are blind, wretched, miserable, and naked. We like to have things our way. Do you desire godliness and holiness above all else? Above wealth, above comforts, above health, above relationships even? Has God dealt with you to the point where all your earthly pleasures are meaningless and insignificant without Him, where all you want is Him and to be like Him and pleasing to Him? Ask God to do this. Ask God to give you holiness above anything else, above any earthly goal or pleasure.
Peter’s “prescription” for replacing fleshly thoughts with spiritual thoughts requires a sober mind ready for action, a hope fixed on the coming glory of Jesus, obedience to the Word and the Spirit’s leading, and a heart that desires holiness above all.
How are you doing replacing fleshly thoughts with spiritual thoughts? What things ought you be focusing on to make a major, permanent breakthrough in this crucial area?