Articles
Peter 01 - The Best Way to Travel
The Best Way to Travel
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure … Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. (1Peter 1:1-2,13-19)
When anyone travels to a land that is not their home land, they may consult books, websites, and listen to what those experienced have to say to help figure out the best way to travel in that foreign land. Peter sends a letter to the aliens [strangers, sojourners] who had left one land and were living in another (1Peter 1:1). This is the way in which Abraham is described by the writer of Hebrews. The concept which he shows is that all people of faith living in this world are traveling to a “city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:9-16). The idea is expressed in a common hymn:
This world is not my home, I am just a-passing thru,
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door,
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
Peter, after introducing the idea of sojourners, spends some time talking about the hope Christians have (1Peter 1:3-12).Then, he gives instruction as to how Christians ought to travel (1Peter 1:13-17)—the best way to travel—the way God instructs.
Prepare your minds for action (1Peter 1:13).
Many things in the first chapter of this letter compare with the twelfth chapter of Exodus. Preparing or “girding” your mind, no doubt, refers to the custom of the Israelites girding up the long flowing outer garments in making ready to travel (Exodus 12:11). Christians are to gather up improper thoughts, illegal feelings, forbidden activities, and everything else over which we might stumble as we travel. Paul reminds us of that which should occupy our minds. We would be wise to think on these things (Philippians 4:8).
Keep sober (1Peter 1:13).
This journey is a serious one. It is not just a sight-seeing trip. It is necessary to have self-control or to be sober. The destination is so important that one dares not be frivolous. Neither does one dare to show much interest in every passing thing (1Peter 1:24). This is one of those things which Peter tells Christians to add (2Peter 1:5-11).
Fix your hope completely (1Peter 1:13).
The believer has a hope (1Peter 1:3-12). This hope must be maintained to the end. The inheritance is at the end (1Peter 1:3-5). The journey must be completed.
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts (1Peter 1:14).
On a journey, children do not determine the route or set the rules. This tells us, of course, that Christians are children of God. One becomes a child of God through obeying the truth, according to this chapter (1Peter 1:22,23). A child of God must remain faithful if he is to be an acceptable child (1Peter 1:14; Matthew 7:21; Luke 6:46). Do you remember the misery of traveling with children who were not obedient? God expects us to be obedient children.
Be holy yourselves in all your behavior (1Peter 1:14,15).
Some things are involved in being holy. Not fashioning ourselves according to our former lusts is one of them (1Peter 1:14). As Christians, we are different to those in the world (1Peter 2:11,12). We have the greatest of motivations (1Peter 1:15,16). Furthermore, so much has been done to enable us to travel (1Peter 1:18,19).
Conduct yourselves in fear (1Peter 1:17).
The word “fear” is used in several different ways in the Bible. Sometimes, it is from the word which means “reverence” or “awe” as in Ecclesiastes 12:13. Sometimes, it is from the word which means “timidity” as in Revelation 21:8. But here it is from the word which means to be “terrified” as in Matthew 27:54 and in Galatians 2:12. As we travel, we are to travel carefully with the fear of displeasing the God we serve lest we incur his wrath.
The best way to travel—what kind of a traveler are you?
To travel, you must start the journey. Won’t you begin if you have not? Won’t you obey the gospel? If you have begun, but are stuck in the mud and mire of sin and have ceased to go forward, won’t you get rid of your sins as God has provided and then get on with the journey? Travel the best way—God’s way.
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