Therefore

 

1Peter 1:13

How often have I read past the “there fore’s” in Scripture, yes, anytime we see therefore we need to go back and read what came before, and in this case, it is being “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, we call that salvation.  It is always important to tie the “therefore” to what comes after, look at how Peter is using this in verse 13.  “Therefore, preparing your mind 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.”  Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and our act of faith in trusting God we need to use this to prepare our minds for action.

How often have you heard someone say “I just cannot do that,” but if we are not able to prepare our minds for action, then God is not good, for God to require you to do something that is impossible would be very mean spirited.  But that is not the case our Father in heaven has given everyone of us the ability to control our thinking.  In Colossians 3:2-3, we are told; “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”  If you have not set your mind for the battle, look around, it is time to believe that Jesus tells the truth; ask God for the faith to believe what is written, turn from the worldly system, from your faith in self or others and believe that you have the mind of Christ, for God has said this in 1 Corinthians 2:16.

Are you looking for the revelation of Jesus Christ, is your hope, your thoughts centered on Him?  Today on my computer I was informed of the following: Gas and food prices skyrocketing...Decimated home values, withering 401(k’s)...Massive unemployment, the devaluing dollar...Unraveling social safety net, confiscatory taxes... This dire warning appeared in The Wall Street Journal in October.  And the implications for our future are truly frightening.  And last week some 89 year old self-proclaimed preacher told us the end of the world would come on May 21, 2011, and he brought shame on the name of our Lord.

What should our attitude be concerning the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ:  Matthew 24:44 gives this insight; “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”  In the book of John 10:10, Jesus lays the battlefield of life for each of us who have a personal relationship with him.  In Matthew 24:42-43, Jesus is telling His church to awake and to diligently await His coming.  He explains that we have no understanding of the day or the hour, but if we are not watching and awake the thief will come and steal from us.  The bottom line is, will you listen to The Wall Street Journal, or will you fix your mind on the Word of God?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice