So much packed into so few words.......
"Therefore...." points us back to what's been said. So, because of the living hope we have in Christ Jesus, because He chose you and saved you, and you are assured of an inheritance with Him, now do this........
NKJV : "gird up your loins". RSB: "prepare your minds for action"
I have a note in my bible from group study: "get serious about your attitudes. Pursue Christ diligently. Act decisively by your will.
"be sober" or be self controlled.
"rest your hope": be worthy.
In other words, Peter is calling the reader to not be lackadaisical about their faith. Consider the truths mentioned before and because of this knowledge, make living for Christ the main thing. Be intentional about it. Don't get discouraged or be wishy-washy about your faith because of persecution, but let the foundations of your faith mentioned in the first verses steady you and keep you firm.
"be holy"......another intentional action. It takes effort. Be holy as He is holy.
I am currently studying the book "The hole in our Holiness" by Kevin DeYoung. Chapter 7 especially helped with the concept of our ability to live holy lives. Because of our union with Christ, we CAN.
If we are in Him, we CAN be successful in not conforming to the world as we once did, and in living holy lives. But only IN Him, can we do this.
"The pursuit of holiness is not a quixotic effort to do just what Jesus did. It's the fight to live out the life that has already been made alive in Christ." (page 100, The Hole in our Holiness, Kevin DeYoung)
We must put forth effort, but that effort only succeeds when we are in Christ.
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