Be Prepared

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As I was reading 1 Peter 1 this morning, this particular paragraph jumped out at me. Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance (1:13-14)

I've been preaching through 1 Peter at NCCF, and with one group of guys I've already gotten through the entire 1st chapter. This morning when I read back over it, I found myself surprised at the revelation I received in these two verses, quite probably because I've preached past them already, and the Spirit didn't lay any specific 'light' on them at the time.

I decided to spend a little time 'mining' and then 'exposing' these verses. First let's look at the action called for, prepare your minds for action. Prepare your minds. Minds aren't active, bodies are. It would seem to us like Peter should have said 'prepare yourself' because then it would have been all inclusive; or 'prepare physically' because action (or by implication, battle) takes a considerable amount of physical stamina; but instead Peter says 'prepare your minds'. How many times have we heard that the battle begins in the mind; or, the battle is won in the mind before; or, half the battle is believing you can? While these cliche's are just that, cliche's, and while they may seem a bit trite or sterile and removed from reality to some extent, I think Peter understood the truth they represent. Suppose David didn't have the consent of his mind when he faced Goliath. First, he wouldn't have even considered going to battle. Secondly, he would have went cowardly and timidly and Goliath would have triumphed.

I could end this post right now and it would be a 'perfect' devotional entry but Peter didn't end. He gave sage advice as to how to accomplish the task he had laid before us. Let's continue...

How did Peter recommend that we prepare our minds? First he suggested we be sober (the phrase, in spirit, has been inserted for readability). Because of the culture from which I hail, it's necessary for me to point out that Peter said be sober, NOT be somber. Sobriety is not constant disappointment, disdain and discouragement. It is, however, vigilance, stability and purpose. Peter wants us to vigilant against light-heartedness, stable in the face of instability and filled with purpose to accomplish the task at hand, spiritual battle.

Secondly Peter recommends that we fix our hope completely on grace. Fix, attach firmly, our confidence on grace. Remember what the call is to, preparation of the mind for battle. Peter is suggesting that firm attachment to grace will prepare our minds for this battle. However, he is going one step further than that and saying that not only firm attachment, but complete firm attachment of our confidence to grace. I hear this saying that we should attach our confidence on nothing else besides grace. If we attach a small amount of confidence to our ability to perform, our past experiences, our genealogical line, etc our minds will be less than fully prepared for this spiritual battle which we will face. We are to fix our hope completely on grace.

Once again we could conclude this post and have a somewhat warm and fuzzy feeling. Once again, though, Peter hasn't finished his thought. Peter finishes with something a little more practical than most of us want to hear. ...do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance. People, don't be ignorant! Don't be so ignorant in your preparation for this battle that you think it's okay to indulge your unsanctified appetites. Never, never, never will indulging your flesh be advantagous to preparing your mind for battle. Never! Period.

While it's not excusable that you were 'conformed' to these lusts and appetites before your conversion, it is at least explainable. But now, however it's neither excusable nor explainable. You are a new creation. You have been called to a higher calling. You are preparing for and fighting in a battle against the very lust you are tempted to conform to. Don't be conformed to the same old lusts you previously lived in, it's ignorant! (literal translation)

Peter is simply explaining the reality of the battle, calling us to preparation, and giving us steps toward that preparation. What will you do?
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