Prepared for Action

1 Peter 1:13-16
13Therefore, 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. 14As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

I’ve always found these four verses of Scripture to be challenging, inspiring, and intimidating – in equal measure. There’s a call to action in the very beginning of this passage that cannot be discounted or ignored. “… preparing your minds for action”. We have been made part of God’s Kingdom, through the power and work of the Holy Spirit. In Him we are brought to faith. But it doesn’t end there. While we have no part in our salvation, we do take on some responsibility when it comes to living our faith on the outside.

There are six characteristic we have to own as functioning Christians.

First, we are told (not asked or offered a suggestion) to prepare our minds
Second, we are told (not asked or offered a suggestion) to be sober-minded
Third, we are hope-full in God’s grace that sent His Son to pay the price for our sin
Fourth, we are obedient to all that God demands
Fifth, we are not conformed to the way we were in the past, before being brought to faith by the Spirit
Sixth, we are holy, because our God is holy

With this daunting list, it would be easy to say, “I just can’t do it.” And that would be the truth. We don’t have that power within us as sinful human beings. But we are not left alone to figure it out for ourselves. We have that same Holy Spirit who brought us to faith, working in and through our lives to bring about these six traits. For that, we give God all of the glory and intentionally live with these gifts in mind.

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