February 28, 2023

1 Peter 1:13-25 (HCSB)
13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. 17 And if you address as Father the One who judges impartially based on each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your temporary residence. 18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.       20 He was chosen before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the times for you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again —not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.

Jason Ricciardi
Athletes talk a lot about “mental reps” and being “mentally ready.” They look for bulletin board material that will drive them toward their goals–their minds lead their actions. That’s not exactly what Paul had in mind when he challenged us to “prepare our minds for action” but that is definitely something to consider. For the Christian, it’s similar. We act and speak only what we’ve already decided in our minds. Even when we wish we could take back our words–it was in our minds first. So how do we get mentally ready as Christians? I suggest three things: 1) what you care about, you think about, 2) what you put in your mind stays there, and 3) you must actively guard your mind. All that simply means that we need to remember our first love of God! We need to dwell on Him, His goodness, and His mercy–He’s totally worth it! We also need to be careful about what we actively put in our minds–maybe we need to choose to watch something more worthwhile in our spare time. Lastly, we must actively decide what we keep out–maybe our song playlists need to be edited. I promise He’s worth it.