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.”