Next, we will begin to examine a few scriptures that directly address the Christian’s walk. In the example that Jesus shared about the shepherd and the sheep we noted that Jesus said the sheep follow the shepherd. How should we understand this “following” idea? In a physical sense we can follow someone without engaging our mind much at all. We just simply watch with our eyes and follow with our feet.

Sometimes believers make statements like, “We just need to follow Jesus” or “Just keep your eyes on Jesus”. This sounds appropriate enough. But really, what does it actually mean in a practical way? I think we can agree that this needs to be more than just a sentimental feeling.               

 

God Calls Us to Walk in Holiness

 

The Apostle Peter makes an interesting statement in I Pet. 1:13. He says “Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober…” God did not create us to be mindless followers of anyone or anything. Let’s look at this passage in I Peter a little farther.

 

I Pet. 1:13-16 KJV “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; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in your ignorance: But as He is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy.”

 I also want to look at this passage in a couple more versions.

 ¹³ Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. ¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (NIV)

            

  ¹³ Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope  completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. ¹⁴ Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, ¹⁵ but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, ¹⁶ for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.” (New English Translation)

 

What do we notice in this passage? The mind is to be fully engaged and alert. Next he reminds us where to set our hope. Our hope for the final fulfillment of our salvation is His grace, not in our ability to discern with the mind. Neither is our hope of salvation to rest on our obedience to God.

The action Peter is calling believers to is to be obedient to God, like children would be obedient to their earthly father. Obedience is a matter of the will. We decide to be obedient or disobedient based to the understanding we have of what is expected of us.

The discernment Peter is calling us to is that we recognize our former ignorance and understand the holiness of God. Peter is saying do not allow your life to be shaped by the lusts and evil desires of your past life, but rather be holy in all that you do.

To walk in holiness we must learn to know the heart of the Shepherd. Casual or indifferent believers will not learn to know the heart of the Shepherd any more than we would know the heart of a person we only know casually. God implores us to seek His face. This implies that God desires an intimate relationship with his children. Would you say you have this kind of relationship with God? Or are you merely acquainted with things about God? There is a vital difference. If our following Jesus is framed in a limited knowledge of “things Christians are supposed to do”, we probably will never see ourselves as God truly sees us and we will continue to walk in some of the evil desires and urges of our ignorance. How do you think we develop a relationship of knowing God intimately? I will stop here today so you can ponder on this question.

DSJ