1 Peter 1:13-16 The Message
A Future in God
13-16 So roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Transformation of Any Kind Takes Effort
We often prize the wonders of ability.
We prize more highly the wonders of those abilities who exceed our own and are even more highly prized are those whose abilities go far beyond everyone else’s.
But if we don’t put our abilities to work, we won’t accomplish much.
If we want change, we have to be willing to work for it.
If we don’t put in enough effort, we won’t bring about any positive change.
Authors who have written a stack of books will tell you that the secret ingredient was the effort it took to get up earlier each day to write.
Great inventors will relate the measures and degrees of “maximum” effort and commitment and dedication it took to bring an idea unto its finished product.
Sports figures will tell you to practice, practice, practice.
The Christian life is 100 percent God’s work.
The resurrection of Christ runs through our veins.
But the Christian life is also 100 percent human effort.
Apostle Peter here urges us to first prepare our minds for action.
The Greek expression here literally means to pull up one’s robe and get ready for action.
Then Peter instructs us to persevere all the way to the end through self-control.
We have to continue to be obedient to our Savior through responsible effort.
The Christian life is definitely going to be hard work from beginning to end.
The pull of the world is unquestionably significant, and will never go away.
Greater is He who is in us than who is in the world, but the pull of the world sometimes seems to be too insurmountable and our balance of thought shifts.
Keeping up and Letting down our biblical guards becomes a great struggle.
Spiritual Transformation is quite the balance act between the Word of God and word of man, and takes all our mental power, our willpower, our muscle power.
But thankfully our balance is the very Cross of our Savior and is a gift of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Amplified Bible
The Wisdom of God
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God. 19 For it is written and forever remains written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise [the philosophy of the philosophers],
And the cleverness of the clever [who do not know Me] I will nullify.”
20 Where is the wise man (philosopher)? Where is the scribe (scholar)? Where is the debater (logician, orator) of this age? Has God not exposed the foolishness of this world’s wisdom? 21 For since the world through all its [earthly] wisdom failed to recognize God, God in His wisdom was well-pleased through the [a]foolishness of the message preached [regarding salvation] to save those who believe [in Christ and welcome Him as Savior]. 22 For Jews demand signs (attesting miracles), and Greeks pursue [worldly] wisdom and philosophy, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, [a message which is] to Jews a stumbling block [that provokes their opposition], and to Gentiles foolishness [just utter nonsense], 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 [This is] because the foolishness of God [is not foolishness at all and] is wiser than men [far beyond human comprehension], and the weakness of God is stronger than men [far beyond the limits of human effort].
Three Keys to a Hope-Filled Spiritual Mindset.
1 Peter 1:13 English Standard Version
Called to Be Holy
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action,[a] and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The words in 1 Peter resound with the sound of hope.
This verse provides a three-step plan for living hope-filled lives.
Peter walks with us through the definition of hope, its nature, and how to be determined in hope.
As a follower of Christ, we live future-minded.
We govern our present choices and actions by training our minds in three areas knowing we will see Jesus face to face someday.
First, we cultivate a disciplined mind.
Outlook influences outcome, and attitude determines action.
I have to keep a source of sugar nearby because my diabetes is in constant need of close and frequent personal monitoring, regular, steady, medical attention.
Sometimes walking through this life is a little like picking up dirt and debris along the way, and soon hope gets lost in the mess.
Centering the thoughts of our minds on the message and wisdom of the Cross, and the promised return of our Savior Jesus helps us to maintain our hope.
Second, we develop a sober mind.
This means to have a steady, calm, and controlled mind by guarding what we think about or expose ourselves to.
It’s listening and obeying God’s Word through the disappointments and discouragements we face.
When we have a sober mind, we stay aware of our range of thoughts, and when hopelessness creeps in, we remind ourselves of God’s faithful, steadfast nature.
Our hope is present and future-minded, so we can strengthen it when we meditate on God’s Word and worship him, which keeps our minds steady.
Third, we pursue an optimistic mind.
“High Energy Positive” comes easily for some people.
It’s like they ooze glitter, and they sparkle.
We can look at that type of person and wonder if they understand pain exists.
As a positive person, let me assure you: I am aware of pain.
Pain has stolen my breath and turned my world dark.
But I’m also aware that God’s heart is abundantly good and trustworthy.
When our hope seems lost, and our outlook is gloomy, look up.
Find something good to focus on.
Maybe it’s the sunrise or the sound of birds singing, the greening of the trees in the coming promise of a new Spring season or your perhaps your child’s smile.
When you see it, hold onto it, lock onto it, “Fort Knox” it, and thank God for it.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
A “God” disciplined, sober, and optimistic mind creates a hope-filled spiritual mindset that allows you to experience the hope of God in the day-to-day grind of life.
We have the blessed assurance of seeing Jesus face to face in the second coming, we can see evidence of him in all our today’s as we all fix your minds upon him.
Look up at the Cross of our Savior instead of down “at your grave site” when hope just leaks from your heart, and let God bring you through to fresh hope.
When Jesus came the first time, he came to reveal God (John 1:18).
As wonderful, powerful, and gracious as he was in his earthly ministry, he did not fully reveal all who he is.
Our hope is tied to his return.
When He comes this time, He won’t come to reveal God, but to reveal himself — the conquering Lord, the Rider on the white horse.
Every knee will bow.
We will get to see him as he really and fully is — Emmanuel in power and grace, triumphant in every way.
When we set our hope on Jesus’ grace when he returns, we can be confidently ready for active service to our king today.
We can live in His hope, under his leadership with obedience and praise today.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God, the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
O Almighty God, You know exactly how much I long for the day when I get to see My Savior Jesus face to face coming with the angels in power. Until that time, fasten my heart and my thoughts in living hope to the glory Jesus will share with me on that day, and please empower me to live as one who knows that victory is mine in Jesus.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 