“FACING THE TWISTS AND TURNS ON THE ROAD OF LIFE-THE PATHWAY OF THE HURTING”
1 PETER 1:13-16
INTRO: When we are hurting, many times we not only lose determination but
we also lose direction. When you turn in your Bible to 1 Peter 1:13,
you will see that God has set for us a path for people who are in the
midst of tough times. There we read, “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.” Peter, reminding
us of what he has previous written concerning our Great Salvation,
steps back from the foundation God has laid and begins to lay out for
us a path of solid practical living. In vv. 3-12, Peter uses the
indicative tense showing us how things are. In v13 he uses the
imperative tense as he lays out for us the life changing practice for
believers in Christ Jesus. All of this is the result of the foundation of
the Great Salvation he has spoken of in vv. 3-12.
God desires that we would live out HIS LIFE through ours even in the
tough times! As the apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 2:14-16—“Do
all things without murmuring and disputings: That ye may be
blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst
of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the
world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of
Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” Because
of the marvelous grace we have received through Christ Jesus we
should begin to live out that grace. The first place Peter turns is to
our relationship with God, our Heavenly Father.
David Jeremiah in his book, A Bend In The Road writes, “The moment
we accept the fact that our ordeal has been permitted, even intended
by God, our perspective on disruptive moments will totally change.
We will find ourselves saying, ‘God, You have allowed this in my life.
I don’t understand it, but I know that it couldn’t have happened to
me unless it was filtered through Your loving hands. So, this thing is
from You” (1). “This Thing”, whatever it may be, is changing our lives
so that we will be more like Christ as God works in us. Our lives are
built upon this steadfast hope we have in God and His working in our
lives. And because of our relationship with God we have a Living
Hope which should translate into everyday holiness. The word
Holiness may be one of the most misused words in our culture today.
Jerry Bridges said, “Holiness is not a series of do’s and don’ts, but a
Conformity to God’s character in the very depths of our being. This
conformity is possible only as we are united with Christ” (2). The
word may be misused by many today, but we dare not lose it nor fail
to display it in our lives! Nigel Turner, an excellent N.T. scholar
writes, “The Church today is concerned about communicating with
the contemporary world and especially about the need to speak in a
new idiom. The language of the Church had better be the language of
the New Testament. To proclaim the Gospel with new terminology is
hazardous when much of the message and valuable overtones that
are implicit in the New Testament might be lost forever.” (Nigel
Turner, Christian Words (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1981), p. 8).
Peter sets before us three things before us each one connected with
our holiness. God’s defining hand for our way in troubling times,
times we feel wounded, is grounded in HIS promise and in the
character of HIS new life in and through us. This new life is one of
everyday holiness. Notice with me that THE PATHWAY OF THE
HURTING IS:
(1) A WAY OF HOLINESS BECAUSE OF OUR HOPE
1 PETER 1:13—“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.”
A. FACING THE TIMES OF HURT. If we are unprepared for the hurts
that we will face in this life, they will surely destroy us. That is why
Peter says, “…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.” Remember to whom Peter is writing. These were some
believers who were facing some severe trials, hurts and pains. Peter’s
words to them is “..gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and hope to
the end…” Peter is saying, “Prepare your minds for action”! This is “a
figure drawn from the custom of girding the loins when about to start
on a journey. So the Christian must prepare himself as on a journey.”
(The People’s New Testament Commentary). When we are “girded”, we
are prepared to run, work, fight or even suffer. It is most fitting that
elect “sojourners” be ready to take action! And at all times, our action
is based upon the Great Salvation we have because of Christ Jesus!
ILLUS: Someone asked Roger Staubach, former quarterback for the
Dallas Cowboys, about football injuries. "How do you keep on
keeping on if you're playing professional football?" Roger said
something important: "If you're not playing hurt, you're not
playing football." It's exactly the same way with the Christian
faith. If you're not living it hurt, you're probably not living the
Christian faith.-- Steve Brown, "The Prime Principle," Preaching
Today, Tape No. 107.
As we face the twists and turns on the road of life we will encounter
suffering, hurt and pain, that is why we must “gird up the loins of our
minds” so that we can endure anything that is thrown at us and still
reflect the holiness of God in and through our lives!
B. FAITH IN THE TIMES OF HURT. When we are hurting, it becomes so
easy for us to let our faith fail. Our reaction to hurt when it comes will
be governed by our relationship to God. Elisabeth Elliot said, “Every
experience of trial puts us to this test: ‘Do you trust God or don’t you?’”
(3). Peter says we are to “be sober and hope to the end..” Let there be
sobriety of spirit. Never let the glow of your hope cease until…Christ
comes (The People’s New Testament Commentary). We must maintain
holy living in the midst of pain and hurt. We must continue to trust
that God will see us through even when it seems hopeless! The word
hope here is translated from a Greek word which means “to confide in,
to expect and to trust.” Our hope must be completely fixed! Our hope
must be locked on “the grace that is to be brought unto you at the
revelation of Jesus Christ.” Grace is always linked to the work of God
through Jesus Christ! Because of our Living Hope we should live out
each day displaying the holiness of God through our lives and not
conforming to this sinful world with all of its wicked influences. Even
when we are facing the trials, troubles, pains and hurts of life. It is not
the way we deal with our human situation that is the basis for hope—
hope is the basis for how we deal with our human situation.-- Arden K.
Barden in a paper, "Spiritual Aging." Christianity Today, Vol. 32, no. 1.
Because of our great HOPE in Jesus we can live holy lives in the midst
of the most severe hurts in life!
THE PATHWAY OF THE HURTING IS A WAY OF HOLINESS BECAUSE OF OUR HOPE and also…
(2) A WAY OF HOLINESS BECAUSE OF OUR NEW CHARACTER
1 PETER 1:14-15—“As obedient children, not fashioning
yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation.”
A. THE NEWNESS OF LIFE. Peter refers to believers here as “obedient
children". This speaks of our behavior, our character. Peter is talking
about the new character we have because of the Living Hope we
possess. Because of our GREAT SALVATION we are NOW “children of
obedience.” We have been born again to a Living Hope. WE have a new
nature. Peter goes on to say later in this letter that we have a new
family, we are part of a new nation, we have a new heritage, we are a
new people and we have a new function! All things changed when we
placed our faith in Christ Jesus! As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:
17—“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things
are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Our very
character is different! We are a child of obedience. And because we are
children of obedience we MUST live out holiness everyday of our lives!
Anything less is a mockery of my profession in Christ Jesus!
ILLUS: Charles Spurgeon said, “A Christian should be a striking like-
ness of Jesus Christ…We should be pictures of Christ…Oh! My
brethren, there is nothing that can so advantage you, nothing
can so prosper you, so assist you, so make you walk towards
heaven rapidly, so keep you head upwards toward the sky, and
your eyes radiant with glory, like the imitation of Jesus Christ”
(4).
The scope of my “holiness” should be in all behavior. That includes
times of suffering, pain and hurt! I must not compartmentalize my life!
But reflect the holiness of God in and through my life at all times and in
all places!
B. THE NECESSITY OF LORDSHIP. Many desire Jesus as their Savior
but do not want to accept Him as the Lord of their life. Vance Havner
said, “If Jesus Christ is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.” (5) This
means we recognize and submit ourselves to the Lordship of Christ in
all areas of our lives! V15 begins with the words, “But as he which
hath called you is holy…” or “like as He which hath called you is holy..”
This is not a comparison of equals but gives us the divine standard for
Holiness. We are to be “not fashioning ourselves according to the former
lusts in our ignorance, but as he which hath called us is holy, so be ye
holy in all manner of conversation.” God is to be the model of our lives!
We have been called by HOLY GOD Himself to be like His Son, Jesus!
We have been called out of darkness that we might walk in the Light
and be fit for fellowship with God, heirs of His Kingdom (v4), and the
ambassadors of HIS TRUTH! Because of our NEW CHARACTER,
holiness is now our way of life. Even in the hurting times of life!
ILLUS: "When we consider the nature of God, the will of God, the call
of God, the command of God, the promises of God, the
provision of God, the power of God, and the eternal purposes
of God, the inevitable conclusion is that without holiness we
cannot please Him (cf Heb 12:14)" - Beacon Hill Commentary
We have seen that THE PATHWAY OF THE HURTING IS A WAY OF HOLINESS BECAUSE OF OUR HOPE and BECAUSE OF OUR NEW CHARACTER and finally, let us see…
(3) A WAY OF HOLINESS BECAUSE OF GOD’S GREAT PROMISE
1 PETER 1:16—“Because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy.”
A. THE RECORD OF THIS PROMISE. “Because it is written, Be ye holy,
for I am holy.” Peter quotes here from Leviticus 11:44. Peter sees this
as a permanent record. It is explicit, you shall be holy! This command
was addressed at first to the Israelites, but it is with equal propriety
addressed to Christians, as the professed people of God. The
foundation of the command is, that they professed to be his people,
and that as his people they ought to be like their God (Albert Barnes’
Notes on The Bible).
B. THE REASON FOR THIS PROMISE. When we are born again, our
lives belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Because our lives belong
to God we can have fellowship with HIM. But to have fellowship with
God we must practice everyday holiness in our lives! We must not
only submit to God's commands but seek to imitate his holiness
(The People’s New Testament Commentary). Daily we are to be growing
in our relationship with God—growing in holiness—but we must
realize we certainly have not arrived! This exhortation and promise is
based once again on our Living Hope we possess in Christ Jesus.
“YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” God says, “I want to enjoy
eternal fellowship with you!” This is the promise of God! It’s where
God desires to take me and everyday as I submit my will to HIS, He is
leading me closer to that desired end! God’s desire for HIS “obedient
children” is everyday holiness—because of HIS great promise! What
is this “everyday holiness”? Does it mean we work in a Christian
office, or school, or neighborhood where people talk about Christian
things and act always in Christian ways? NO! It means that we are
the salt and light in a decaying world—at the office, school, or
neighborhood. It means living in God’s Ways in the filth of life
situations, some of which are very difficult and painful! We are called
to be set apart to God and for God!
I may step on some toes this morning, including my own, but I need to
address more of “everyday holiness”. It is not escapism from bringing
Christ to a dying world. But it is being sober about what God has
done and also about whom I am—His Child! Everyday holiness means
I gather up all the slack in my life—stop compartmentalizing—stop
flirting with the world and its ungodliness—and prepare myself for
action consistent with my New Character in Christ Jesus! God wants
us to be “in this world, but not of this world.” It is very heartbreaking
when professed believers all too often and of their own free will, choose
ungodliness. Many times we call it “entertainment”. But much of
what is “entertainment” today is nothing more a cesspool of
immorality! And God is grieved because He gave His Son, Jesus that
we might be saved and enjoy fellowship with HIM! The truth about
computer programming is true for more than just computers—
“Garbage In—Garbage out!” And when we find ourselves in such a
predicament, We cannot fellowship with God!
ILLUS: A happy Christian met an Irish peddler one day and said to
him, "It's a grand thing to be saved." "Aye," said the peddler,
"It is. But I think something is equally as good as that." "What
can you possibly think is equal to salvation?" "The
companionship of the Man who has saved me," was the reply.
When we know that, we can rejoice with John and say "Truly
our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus
Christ" (1 John 1:3).
Daily we must “be holy, for He is holy” so we can enjoy fellowship with
HIM!
CLOSING: Because of our relationship with Our Heavenly Father, we have a
steadfast hope, a Living Hope, which should translate itself in our
lives by us being conformed to His HOLINESS! Holiness honors
God with all I am in all places that I am and at all times! Holiness
trusts God with the realization that what is He is doing in my life,
even in the midst of pain and hurt, is for my good and His Glory!
Holiness testifies to others of God’s New Life in me! And that
allows God’s glory to shine in the filthiest of places! As we face the
twists and turns on the road of life we sometimes find ourselves on
the pathway of the hurting. But let us realize it is A WAY OF
HOLINESS BECAUSE OF OUR HOPE, A WAY OF HOLINESS
BECAUSE OF OUR NEW CHARACTER, and A WAY OF HOLINESS
BECAUSE OF GOD’S GREAT PROMISE.
Believers are born again to a Living Hope! Destined for a glorious
Future! Protected by the power of Almighty God! Holiness is our
Way—Because we have anchored our hope completely on “the grace
that is to be brought us at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” God has
given unto us a new character, we are “obedient children” And God
has given to us the greatest ministry opportunity which is also the
greatest testimony to HIS glory—YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM
HOLY! What a testimony of HIS Glory it is to this world, when HIS
Children display His holiness even on the pathway of the hurting!
NOTES: 1. David Jeremiah. A Bend In The Road. p. 21.
2. Albert M. Wells, Jr. Inspiring Quotations-Contemporary &
Classical. p. 88.
- Wells. p. 205.
- Robert J. Morgan. Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations
& Quotes. p. 103.
5. Wells. p. 195.