Living a life waiting for the master
Gregory Bishop(Audio: Spanish)
SUMMARY:
The passage in 1 Peter 1:13-21 calls on Christians to be alert and focused on the things of God, especially in a world where sin and temptation are increasing. The phrase "gird up the loins of your mind" means to be ready for action and to have a concentrated, game face on. This is based on Jesus' teaching in Luke 12:35-40 where he encourages his disciples to be ready for his return at any moment. Peter also emphasizes the need to be sober and fully focused on the grace that will be brought at Christ's return. Christians must keep their eyes fixed on the end goal and push through pain and trials because the reward on the other side is worth it.
The speaker talks about the coming of Christ and the importance of fixing our minds on it. Jesus is currently invisible to us, but one day he will be manifested on the other side, and every eye will see him. The speaker believes that supernatural clouds will be formed when the heavenly air interacts with the earthly air, and that Jesus will come on those clouds. When Jesus comes, he will bring grace to us, and we will be transformed. We are not normal people, but glorious beings who will shine like Jesus after being raised up. The speaker encourages us to resist temptation and be holy because we are made for another world, and our destiny is a glorious one.
The Apostle Paul in the book of Colossians urges believers to focus on heavenly things and live a holy life, putting to death all sin and renewing their minds. Jesus fulfilled all the laws and rules, and holiness is now a matter of the heart and mind, with the motivation being the glory that awaits believers when Jesus comes. The shekinah visitation was a sample of the glory to come, and believers should set their eyes on that glory and live a dedicated and holy life. Temptations and suffering will come, but believers must stay focused on the glory of Jesus and be ready for His coming. The prayer is for God to help believers live a holy life, cleanse them with His blood, and prepare them for Jesus' coming.I encourage you to open your Bibles to First Peter, chapter 1, near the end of the New Testament, verse 13. I felt that the Lord was assigned to preach about it. It is not part of a series that I am doing but I felt the Lord guide me through various circumstances to talk about this text that we are going to reflect on together. Beginning in verse 13, the word of God says:
“…Therefore gird up the loins of your understanding, – we are going to take time to talk about it – be sober and wait completely for the grace that will bring you when Jesus Christ is manifested. As obedient children, do not conform to the desires that you previously had when in your ignorance, but as the one who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your way of living. Because it is written, be holy, because I am holy. And if you invoke as a father the one who without respect of persons judges according to the work of each one, conduct yourselves in fear throughout your pilgrimage, knowing that you were rescued from your vain way of life, which you received from your parents not with things corruptible as gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without blemish already destined from before the foundation of the world but manifested in the last times for love of you.”