There are times when I will hook up my computer to my television. I am doing this so that what I see on the computer may be seen on the television monitor. My computer has a setting allowing for “mirroring.” You simply click on the icon if you want to enable it so that what you see on the one screen is also seen on the other screen. The second screen “mirrors” or “reflects” the first screen.
In 1 Peter 1:15-16, Peter is essentially calling for our “mirroring” the heavenly Father so that what is seen in Him may be seen in us.
15 but as He who called you is holy, so you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Peter is quoting from Scripture there in verse 16. Indeed, in more than one place in the Book of Leviticus, God says, “Be holy, for I am holy (Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7).”
Peter is stressing holiness as contrasted with worldliness. God is holy. He is “set apart” from the things of the world. Christians likewise are to be “set apart” from the things of the world.
He is not talking about the way one becomes a Christian. None of us can ever become “holy enough” to earn admittance into heaven! Only by trusting in the perfect holiness and righteousness of Christ can a person ever be accepted by God. We have already noted this truth in our previous studies in 1 Peter. Contextually, Peter is addressing believers (1 Peter 1:2-12) in his call for holy living.
He writes of the Christian’s imitating the heavenly Father, referring to Christians as “obedient children (verse 14)” of the Father. And he’ll go on in verse 17 to talk about “calling on the Father.” Right between those to references to the heavenly Father, Peter writes that Christians are to “be holy” just as the Father who called them is holy.
It’s helpful to recall that Peter is addressing Christians who are undergoing persecution. He does not merely say to them, “Hey, it’s going to be alright, hang in there.” Rather, He says, “Be holy!”
Why?
Because the best way to get through anything in life is to be like the Lord. The best way to endure persecution is to conform to the image of God’s Son (Romans 8:29). That’s God’s purpose for Christians; conformity to the image of God’s Son. Nothing prepares you for hard days and difficulties like conformity to your Savior; reflecting and mirroring the things of God.
So to “be holy as God is holy” means to mirror Him. His focus becomes our focus. His interests are our interests. His purposes are our purposes. We delight in Him more than we delight in our former lusts (1 Peter 1:14).
“To be holy as God is holy” is more than just avoiding sin. It’s bigger than that. The way we avoid sin and temptation is to have an all-consuming desire and passion for God. We endeavor to delight in Him more than anything else. If we can get this right–imitating God, focusing upon God, delighting in God, mirroring and reflecting God–then avoiding sin is just the natural byproduct.
Avoiding sin is the natural result of a life that delights in God.
We often go about holiness the wrong way–and we fail miserably. We know that holiness is largely defined as being “set apart” or being “separate,” so we call for mere moral correction: “Don’t do this and don’t do that!”
But without a life of love for God, delighting in God, mirroring God, all we have is harsh legalism. Instead, as obedient children we will love our Father; delight in Him; pursue Him. Then, the avoidance of sin and former lusts becomes the natural byproduct.
Essentially, sin is idolatry. Our sinful actions are tantamount to saying, “I love this more than I love God.” So to avoid sin, we must fill our hearts and minds with love, adoration, and delight for our Father.
Here’s a helpful prayer:
“Lord, help me to imitate my heavenly Father, loving and delighting in Him.”
Have you ever wished you were in better physical shape? Wouldn’t it be great if you could just go to the gym and merely sit down in there–and you didn’t have to do anything at all–your muscles just began to grow and develop naturally?!
Crazy, right? But that’s how many people try to live the Christian life. They say, “Just let go and let God” as thought a “really spiritual” life happened by mere rest and inactivity.
But if that’s all you do–passively resting in neutral gear–you’re going to get spiritually “out of shape.” Over time, you’ll lose “spiritual muscle tissue” and will become weaker and less holy. You’ll find wrong thoughts beginning to creep into your mind; creeping into your thinking and turning you away from love for God.
You’ll stop “mirroring” Him, imitating Him, reflecting Him, and living for Him.
The Christian life is not passive. It is active. It requires effort and discipline:
…as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16)
May God help each of us to be so disciplined this week.
What About You?
- “Avoiding sin is the natural result of a life that delights in God.” Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?
- What steps can you take today to more accurately “mirror” the Lord?
- Consider taking a moment to pray the simple one line prayer above.
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