Prepare your minds for action

1 Peter 1:13 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. (NIV)

Have you ever encountered God when He is hungry to show you something? Sometimes I marvel at His Persistence. He just doesn't seem to give up does He. Take this verse from 1 Peter for example. In a few short words God stirred my heart with hunger for transformation. Let's take a look at it's three parts.

BE SELF CONTROLLED
Self-control seems to be the heart of the lesson, the goal. But as I considered this truth I realized it was incomplete by itself. Reflecting on the first part of the verse left me puzzled.

"How do you PREPARE YOUR MIND FOR ACTION?", I asked God. It took about a week but one night as I thought on it I realized this truth. "You will grow to love whatever you set your affections upon."

Suddenly it hit me full force. If I spend my time thinking on something I will desire to have it, and that desire will grow within me stirring my heart towards action. If it is something sinful I will grow to love that sinful thing. If it is something holy I will grow to love that holy thing. I sensed God saying "self control begins in my mind". It begins with choosing who I want to be. Like Christ or not like Christ.

GRACE
Let's look at the third part. Although self-control is the goal, I am sometimes powerless to express it in ways that are pleasing to God. The frustration that produces can drive me nuts. I am more and more amazed at how patient God is with me as I struggle to be who He has called me to be. He expects I will miss the mark sometimes. Now, I didn't say He desires me to, just that I will. And this is the wonder of His love. His willingness to allow me to fail.

I am convinced that God also expects me to hit the mark. He believes I can and has provided a way if I really want to. It is called grace. It is the supernatural power to live a self-controlled life doing natural things God's way.

So, what is the good news? My friends, we can live self controlled lives through Jesus Christ who strengthens us.

John Pearson
© 2008 All rights reserved.

Successful living is a promise of God

The charge to Joshua is filled with lessons for Christians on enjoying spiritual success and prosperity. Successful living is a promise of God, a gift of God, attainable by the help of God. Its potentialities are enormous, waiting only to be appropriated.

Enemies of the soul – Satan, the world, the flesh – need to be driven out, but they are the enemies of God, and so He promises all the help needed in conquering them. The condition laid to the Christian is costly but absolutely necessary: living in constant obedience in the light of God’s Word.

The blessings of victorious living come by invitation to the Christian, but the conditions for it’s fulfillment come by mandate.

Christians, like Joshua, cannot escape the divine words loud and clear: “Have I not commanded thee?” (Joshua 1:9)

Irving L. Jensen
Joshua, Rest-Land Won