Praise be to the God and Father of our mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:3-16 NIV
I love this Bible text. It is filled with hope and encouragement, yet challenges me to live up to His holy standard. God asks me to prepare my mind to be holy. The idea of preparation is an intentional process; making my mind ready for purposeful use.
I will prepare my mind because I know what God has done. He has given me a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; he has promised me a heavenly inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade; he has provided a powerful shield of protection until his promises can be revealed; he provided knowledge for my faith, as he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow; and, he provided servants as a heritage of faith, until I could develop a faith of my own.
I will prepare my mind because I know what God will do. He will help my faith to be proved genuine; he will allow me to express praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed; and, he allows me to be filled with inexpressible and glorious joy, because I know with certainty I am receiving the goal of my faith, the salvation of my soul.
I will prepare my mind because I want what God wants. Even though I have not seen him, I love him; even though I do not see him now, I believe in him; I will be moved to action and self-controlled; my hope will rest fully on the grace to be given me when Jesus Christ is revealed; and, I no longer want to conform to my evil desires. I want to be holy in all I do.
Because of what God has done, what God will do, and what God wants me to do, I will prepare my mind for action. What about you?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, please accept my praise to you for a living hope. Thank you for what you have done and for what you will do. Thank you for challenging me to be holy, as you are holy. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Carl Smith
Stephenville, Texas
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