“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.”
– 1 Peter 1:13
Main Thought: Two things are evident in this particular verse written by the apostle Peter. First of all, the apostle makes it evident that our walk with the Lord happens intentionally and that we are to “prepare [our] minds for action.” Secondly, he commands that these believers “set [their] hope fully on the grace that will be brought to [them] at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Many believers miss the commands of the apostles–Paul, Peter, and John–that we have a responsibility to set our hearts and minds on the kingdom of God and the return of Christ. Advancing in spiritual growth is not accidental, and neither is “your hope fully on the grace…at the revelation of Jesus Christ,” which doesn’t mean we are just supposed to look up at the skies all the time and dream of heaven. No, Peter was telling the believers of that day to be prepared for action, to be busy about doing the kingdom work of Christ. When Jesus had ascended into heaven and the believers were standing gazing up, the two angels said why are you doing this, that He is going to return in the same way you have seen Him ascend (Acts 1:10-11). They immediately went back to Jerusalem and began to meet together to pray, to prepare themselves for the coming of the Holy Spirit and for the kingdom work that Christ had called them to. When the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost to fill them and equip them, they were already prepared and had their hope fully set on Christ. Do we desire the coming of Christ and our glorification? Absolutely, but we are not called to just sit around waiting for it, we are to prepare ourselves, we equip ourselves daily with the Word of God and prayer, we meet with the people of God in worship and the instruction of God’s Word, so that our hope is more fully set on the kingdom of Christ and the grace revealed at the coming of Christ and we are in our hearts and minds more fully prepared for doing the kingdom work He has called us to do. This is not just for the pastors, elders, and teachers, but every child of God is called to this. Is your mind prepared for action and your hope fully on the grace that will be completed at the revelation of Christ? We do so daily and intentionally by filling our minds with God’s Word, and we equip ourselves for the spiritual work of the believer by going to His throne, drawing near to Him in prayer. May every one of us who know Christ be obedient to what Peter is admonishing us to do, and may we more and more have our “hope fully on the grace that will be brought to [us] at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
David Webber
David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.
More from David Webber
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
“To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill all your good pleasure for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Matthew 16:6
“And Jesus said to them, ‘Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” – Matthew 16:6
Philemon 1:7
“For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.” – Philemon 1:7
Hebrews 12:5-7
“And you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the LORD, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the LORD loves He disciplines, and He flogs every son whom He receives.’ It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” – Hebrews 12:5-7
Isaiah 28:15-16
“Because you have said, ‘We have cut a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have made a pact. The overflowing scourge will not reach us when it passes by. For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have hidden ourselves with lying. Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, ‘Behold I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.” – Isaiah 28:15-16
Psalm 84:11-12
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” – Psalm 84:11-12
Psalm 84:1
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!” – Psalm 84:1
Hebrews 2:1
“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” – Hebrews 2:1
John 4:13-14
“Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him, will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'” – John 4:13-14
Matthew 4:17
“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 4:17