Preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. – 1 Peter 1:13
The imperative in today’s verse is that you set your hope fully on the grace that will come to you at the second coming of Christ your Savior. This hope includes the expectation of the redemption of your body, a perfect resurrection body. This inheritance from God as His adopted child is a salvation for which to always be grateful and aware.
Your role as His child is to seek to be conformed to the Christlikeness Paul refers to in Romans 12:1-2, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God… do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God.” Peter’s message, which includes Paul’s appeal to fellow believers, is that your attitude of hope should not be half-hearted, but decisive and fully reliant on what God has promised He will do.
This confident expectation is preceded by your actions as a believer to reinforce your life of hope. Preparing your mind for action means centering your thoughts on Christ instead of being distracted and burdened by things of this world that can then become an obstacle to your faith. Your attitude provides the motivation to seek God and live with eternity in mind.
Being sober-minded reflects a levelheadedness that allows you to be calm and able to evaluate situations with balance, avoiding extremes. It also makes you spiritually alert and active in prayer so you remain faithful to and confident in the Lord despite the devil’s schemes.
The people and governing officials of this nation need the hope that Christ gives by His grace. Pray now that this hope will be realized!
Today’s Verse: 1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Titus 2:7-14
7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
