Preschool
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10).
Living Free of Sin
Memory Verses
Primary
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments (Psalm 111:10).
Junior
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever (Psalm 111:10).
Background Scripture: 1 Peter 1
Lesson Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-25
Introduction
Sin is something we contend with every day. King Solomon, in his prayer at the dedication of the temple, uttered these words: “There is no man that sinneth not” (1 Kings 8:46). How are we to live free of sin? God said, “Ye shall be holy; for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44). It is a high standard, but He has made freedom from sin attainable. The answer is found within the Bible.
The greatest battles are fought in our minds; thoughts formed there eventually find entrance into the heart. May this lesson help us understand what hinders us so we can experience God’s saving grace every day.
Key Verse
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God (1 John 3:9).
Lesson Scripture
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;
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Studying the Lesson
The apostle Peter wrote this epistle to believers scattered throughout parts of Asia Minor, which is present day Turkey. These may have been converted Jews who fled to heathen regions where their persecutors would not find them. They may also have been gentiles who were converted to Christianity. It does appear, however, that Peter is addressing people who never met the Lord Jesus in person. “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pet. 1:8). This applies to Christians of all ages, including us.
The first verse of our text encourages us to prepare our minds for action. The long, loose robes worn by the people of that day were good for regular activity but not suitable for strenuous work. The hem of these garments needed to be gathered and tucked behind the belt in order to be ready for active duty. Sometimes we may realize that we have spent too much time in a complacent, casual mindset. If this is not checked, there is danger of becoming indifferent and insincere. Lethargy is a state of weariness and want of energy and can be caused by a lack of exercise and inactivity. In a physical sense, if we dwell on the tiredness we feel, we probably will not get much done. Focusing rather on the work that needs doing or observing our loved ones at work can motivate us out of the easy chair to offer our help.
Ignorance is consistent with darkness and is left behind when coming into the light. Many of these Christians likely had accepted and embraced a saving faith that was unknown to their fathers. Even if our parents were sincere Christians, following their example alone will not save us. Salvation is not secured with tangible things or personal merit but with the precious blood of Jesus.
Practical Truths for Today
“An idle mind is the devil’s workshop” is a proverb that illustrates if we are not careful with our thoughts, the devil will lead them into unwholesome avenues. To “gird up the loins of our minds” could mean leaving behind a careless thought pattern. Each one of us is responsible for guarding our thoughts. Another saying proclaims, “If idle minds the devil finds, first he binds, and then he grinds.” This warns us of the progression of unguarded thoughts.
The Bible has rich instructions for keeping our minds pure. The apostle Paul, in writing to the Philippians, gives us an effective screen to separate good thoughts from bad ones. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8). Truth is the first checkpoint. There is so much deception and error in this world that it can be quite challenging to determine the truth in some matters. The abundance of available media compounds the confusion. Christians must choose to fill their minds with good things and meditate on that which is true and upbuilding.
Our flesh never gets converted, and it accompanies us throughout life. Perhaps all of us have unpleasant memories that will hinder our Christian progress if we dwell on them. The apostle Paul had a regrettable past that he had to come to grips with. He committed the heinous sin of blasphemy and persecuted the saints through ignorance and unbelief, but God granted him mercy to leave that behind, forgiven and lain to rest (1 Tim. 1:13). He endeavored to count them as forgotten (Phil. 3:13). Even if there are sins that were not committed in ignorance, God’s grace is available to unhook from the past. Whenever the devil tries to trip us up with memories of a sinful past that has been reconciled, we can tell him, “That belongs to my old life. I have accepted the blood of Christ to cover these wrongs, and God the Father has pronounced me justified. You cannot bring these accusations against Jesus’s perfect redemption.”
Confessing our faults one to another is an essential ingredient in living free of sin. Though an annual, revival-time clearing has its place, we should not neglect making apologies whenever the Spirit prompts us to do so. Let us not be like the mythical ostrich hiding its head in the sand thinking no one can see it. Those with whom we interact on a regular basis, be it family members or co-workers, notice our faults and perhaps wonder whether or not we see them. Holy Spirit-prompted confession will mention specific incidents. Others may or may not recall the happening, but we have exposed our weakness. This does not mean confession that is driven by a performance-based misconception.
We all come to the foot of the cross as bankrupt sinners with an insurmountable debt and nothing to even begin to pay it. As we personally accept the sacrifice that Jesus offered on Golgotha, we are released from our sinful past. This does not mean that our memory is automatically erased, but it need not haunt us and cause us pain. God’s grace is sufficient that we can live above the memories that remain. On the other hand, if we relive and relish the sins of the past, have we truly repented?
God is more interested in our future than in our past. A song says, “Part of my life is a story of shame, but the rest of my life I will honor God’s name.”1 Does God perhaps leave enough of our sinful past in memory so we know that we never want to go back there? Heaven alone will erase all painful memories.
Picture a toddler walking between his parents, holding their hands. When there are stones on the path or the hill is too steep, he simply lifts his feet and lets his father and mother carry him. Likewise, if the devil takes things from the past and lays them before us, may we also lift our feet and be supported by Jesus on one side and the church on the other side. Jesus’s blood covers our sins, and our spiritual brothers and sisters also help us to walk unhindered by offering their love and care.
Even though guarding our thoughts seems like a constant battle, let us not tire. God will give us strength to be victorious through his abundant grace.
Questions
- Relate an experience of finding release from a memory that kept hindering you.
- What might cause a Christian to feel strong enough to flirt with temptation?
- Is it possible to strive for an unrealistic level of holiness?
- Why is Psalm 119:9 directed to the youth?
- 1 Albert E. Brumley (1905-1977), “The Rest of My Life”
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).