“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 Corinthians 8:9
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” – 2 Corinthians 8:9
Job 14:1-2
“Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.” – Job 14:1-2
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:30-31
Proverbs 28:13
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” – Proverbs 28:13
Psalm 119:41-42
“Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me.” – Psalm 119:41-42
Psalm 86:9
“All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.” – Psalm 86:9 (ESV)
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” – 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (ESV)