1 Peter 1:8 (NIV) Though you have not seen him [Jesus Christ], you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.
1 Peter 1:13-16 (NLT) 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 4:7 (NIV) The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. (NLT) The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.
I enjoy reading the first epistle of Peter—I consider it one of my “go to” books and I read it often. It is a message to all Christians, both then and now, urging us toward a life of holiness. Sometimes I like to think of it as “set-apartness” from worldly perspectives. Over and over again, Peter reminds Christians to prepare their minds, be clear minded, be self-controlled, never stop praying—all qualities that are increasingly difficult to maintain during these troubled days.
The irony is that it is all too easy to become bogged down in what can be seen (e.g., the negative news of the day); and to forget that which is unseen (e.g., Jesus Christ). Staying clear minded and self-controlled will enable us to remember that what is seen is temporary, but what is now unseen will be everlasting. And this, dear friends, is what brings us inexpressible and glorious joy!
Gracious heavenly Father,
Forgive us when we become so bogged down with worldly issues that we forget to look up toward you. Thank you for the promised return of Jesus Christ, he who is the ultimate Grace.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The devotional Clear Minded and Self-Controlled appeared first on Write From My Heart at
https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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