Verse of the Day 1/6
1 Peter 1:13-14 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. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, English Standard Version (ESV)
Many people have begun the new year with a daily Bible reading plan, the goal being to learn more about God and His Word. Today's verses are a reminder that the overarching goal is to be more than that; it is to be "preparing our minds for action". The first step in faith is once you hear God's call that answer Him by turning to Him; coming to Him in faith and becoming dependent upon His Word. We are to set our hearts "fully on the grace" that He will bring us. This grace involves the realization of forgiveness and drawing upon His enabling power to follow Him in obedience to His Word.
The energy itself to do this comes from God Himself, in Christ alone, with the confidence and expectation that He has planned something better for us tomorrow.
Verse 13 speaks of us as needing to be sober-minded, to think clearly about it. It is serious business and spending time in God's Word and in prayer; day by day; is the way to grow in His grace and become more of what He wants us to be as we apply what He puts in our hearts and minds.
The final thing that I'll mention today is that if you are on a read through the Bible plan, you have or will shortly read about Abram (Abraham) in Genesis 12. He was 75 years old when He responded to God's call and look what became of it. We are never too old to prepare our hearts for action; acting in faith; the question is will we be willing to step out in faith and take action; not knowing where it may lead us.
Genesis 12:1-4 New King James Version (NKJV)
Promises to Abram
12 Now the Lord had said to Abram:
"Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father's house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
4 So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
-- In Christ, Mike Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
1 Peter 1:13-16 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Chosen To Live a Holy Life
13 Be alert and think straight. Put all your hope in how kind God will be to you when Jesus Christ appears. 14 Behave like obedient children. Don't let your lives be controlled by your desires, as they used to be. 15 Always live as God's holy people should, because God is the one who chose you, and he is holy. 16 That's why the Scriptures say, "I am the holy God, and you must be holy too."
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