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Welcome to Day 2359 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.\nThis is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to\xa0Wisdom\nDay 2355 \u2013 OUR LIVING HOPE \u2013 STAYING CLEAN IN A CORRUPT SOCIETY 1 PETER 1:13-21 \u2013 Daily Wisdom\nPutnam Church Message \u2013 04/14/2024\n\nOur Living Hope \u2013 Staying Clean in a Corrupt Society \n\n1 Peter 1:13-21\n\n \n\nLast week, we began an extended, systematic study of the letters of 1st and 2nd Peter. Our message was \u201cSmiling Through Suffering.\u201d We highlighted the grace that strengthens us to go on in spite of our circumstances, and Peter shines the light on the resurrected Christ| not on us or the world| as the one reliable source of living hope in hurtful times. Peter emphasizes hope to go on despite suffering. This hope grows stronger as we focus on the relief we\u2019ll enjoy in our heavenly home.| Still focusing on the believer\u2019s life in this fallen world, Peter now shifts his emphasis from physical trials to spiritual temptations. If the question last week was, \u201cHow can I remain joyful while suffering?\u201d the question this week is, \u201cHow can I stay clean in a corrupt society?\u201d\n\nThe Bible does not encourage us to become hermits, monks, or Utopians. Believers have a mission to accomplish in the world; therefore, we can\u2019t afford to lock ourselves outside it. The Christian\u2019s solution to the problem of holy living in an unholy world is not isolation; it\u2019s insulation. This is why 1 Peter 1:13-21 challenges us to be different from our depraved society without fleeing to the caves, cloisters, or communes.\n\nLet\u2019s begin our study reading 1 Peter 1:13-21 on page 1887 in your Pew Bibles.\n\n13\xa0Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,\xa0set your hope\xa0on the grace to be brought to you\xa0when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.\xa014\xa0As obedient\xa0children, do not conform\xa0to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.\xa015\xa0But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;\xa016\xa0for it is written: \u201cBe holy, because I am holy.\u201d[a]\n\n17\xa0Since you call on a Father\xa0who judges each person\u2019s work\xa0impartially,\xa0live out your time as foreigners\xa0here in reverent fear.\xa018\xa0For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed\xa0from the empty way of life\xa0handed down to you from your ancestors,\xa019\xa0but with the precious blood\xa0of Christ, a lamb\xa0without blemish or defect.\xa020\xa0He was chosen before the creation of the world,\xa0but was revealed in these last times\xa0for your sake.\xa021\xa0Through him you believe in God,\xa0who raised him from the dead\xa0and glorified him,\xa0and so your faith and hope\xa0are in God.\n\n-1:13-16-\n\nI can imagine that Peter dictated the first twelve verses of his letter in a posture of praise as he paced the room in Rome where he was staying. Perhaps he stared out the window, directing his prayerful words partly to his secretary, Silas, and partly to his heavenly Father, as he praised Him for the living hope believers have through Christ.