We say Jesus is the reason for the season.

It dawned on me recently that another reason for the season is Mark Roth.

Had it not been for my sin and need of redemption, Jesus need not have come.

But He needed to come and so He came.

Not only did He come to redeem us, He also came to be our example:

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

Having accepted His life, will I follow His steps?

In reading 1 Peter 1 this morning, I am struck by the call to obedience given at least these three times:

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God…through sanctification…unto obedience…” (2).

“As obedient children…so be ye holy in all manner of conversation” (14,15).

“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth…” (22).

And now, just as I typed these out, I notice three related words — sanctification, holy, purified!

As a child of God, I am set apart (sanctified, made holy, purified) for God and for obedience to Him.

That is why Jesus “was foreordained before the foundation of the world” and finally “was manifest in these last times” (20)!