“You know better.” How many times, as a child, did you hear those words in your house? For me, it was a lot. Oftentimes the words were directed at my sister, but that’s a story for another time.
All kidding aside, we do know better, don’t we? Although the lines between what’s right and wrong have been blurred, especially in today’s post-modern age, I believe that most people still know (in their heart) the difference between right and wrong.
The letter of First Peter is a wakeup call to Christians. In 1 Peter 1:13-16, the apostle speaks to the idea of living a holy life. While grace allows us to live freely, it is not a license to live a sinful life.
1 Peter 1:14-15 (NLT) says, “So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.”
Once you make the decision to follow Jesus Christ, you’re making the choice to set yourself apart from the world. Don’t forget the words of Jesus from John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.”
Since you are no longer part of this world, you should know better. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16 NLT)
Truth & Discernment 