‘So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”’ – 1 Peter 1:13-16 NLT
As we live in this world, the temptation exists to direct our focus on trivialities and take our eyes off Jesus. Sometimes, we may have to fight back feelings of loneliness, comparison, compulsive spending, lack of self-control etc.
Rather than give in to the flesh, we should always remember the gift of salvation. The gift of a new life in Christ. That He came to this world as a Man, saved us from our sins and now through the Spirit of adoption, we are able to cry out, “Abba, Father.” This is a season to remember that we have an Heavenly Father, our God who is mindful of us.
Let us not cling to the lies of loneliness or try and conform to this world through comparison. Let us look to Jesus. Our reference scripture says, prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. ‘Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1 Peter 1:13 (NKJV)
This revelation of Jesus Christ is our hope, where we should place all our focus. As we place our hope in His return, we are called to exercise self-control, be prepared, sober, calm and collected in spirit. Apostle Peter then goes further: ‘live as God’s obedient children. Do not slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. ‘ God says, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’
PRAYER: God help me to be more like You. Help me to exercise self-control, to keep my gaze fixed on You. Help me to remember this gift of life through Christ Jesus. Thank you for saving me, and choosing me. Help me to live a holy life, as You Father are holy in Jesus name. Amen.