“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13
I know some of you don’t like action movies. You find them either too unrealistic or violent. After a hard day’s work, all you want is a calm drama or comedy movie or even a relaxing sitcom to unwind. But I strongly believe that if the story of the Christian life was a movie, it would definitely be an action one.
When you read passages like; “put on the whole armour of God” or “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour” you know we are not talking about a sitcom or comedy.
In every action movie, there is a villain and a hero. At some point in the movie, the villain dies and the hero triumphs. In the movie of the Christian life, God is definitely the hero, and the devil is the villain. But aside these two, there are other characters in any action movie, who can become casualties unless they take steps to survive.
As Christians, we are the other characters in our movie; and the question is, how do we survive in this action-packed movie?
The apostle Peter in 1 Peter 1:13 lays out a mindset every Christian must have in order to survive. There are three aspects of this mindset: 1) prepare your mind for action 2) keep your cool, and 3) fix your eyes on the prize
From verses 1-12 of 1 Peter 1, the apostle makes three important statements, which every Christian must bear in mind.
First, he describes his readers as elect exiles. He calls them elect because their faith is not a product of their own work. It is the result of the sovereign act of God. No Christian can boast because it is
“by grace we have been saved through faith. And this is not our own doing; it is the gift of God”(Ephesians 2:8).
Second, he describes them as exiles. An exile is someone who is living away from home. Paul told the Philippians, “our citizenship is in heaven.” A Christian is someone who is far away from his native country, heaven. So, Peter is right in calling these saints who are scattered in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, exiles.
As Christians, you and I are also elect exiles. Our faith is solely the work of a gracious and sovereign God, and we are not home yet. We still live in a fallen world, far away from our heavenly home.
Lastly, he reminds his readers how big a deal their salvation is. In verses 10 & 11, he writes
“Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.”
According to Peter, salvation is the most important topic in the whole of the universe. The world often wants us to believe that there is something more important than this, but that is not true. Not even politics or the economy is that important. Our salvation is something that even angels longed to look into (1Peter 1:12).
It is based on these three central statements that Peter exhorts his readers to have this mindset. To prepare their mind for action, to be sober-minded and set their hopes fully on the grace that is to be revealed.
So, let’s look at each of the aspects of this mindset the apostle exhorts his readers, and consequently us to have.
Preparing your Mind for Action
What does it mean to prepare your mind for action? And how do we do that?
Although, we see a lot of warfare language in the Bible, it is also very clear that this war is not being waged in the physical. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 Paul writes,
“for though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”
The war we are engaged in as believers is a war of the mind. And that’s why our most effective weapon is not an automatic rifle, but the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Our Commander-In-Chief who has sent us into this battle knows the nature of the war and has therefore equipped as accordingly.
Preparing our minds for action means renewing our minds with the word of God; so that we will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. In Romans 12:2 Paul told his readers,
“do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
I recently visited a Themes Park with two friends of mine. I don’t know what I was thinking or how they managed to convince me, but I agreed to go on a roller coaster with them. These brothers had been on those rides a few times; so, they knew exactly what to expect. When the ride started, while I was holding on to the seats in front of me for my dear life, they had raised their hands in the air and were cracking up as they watched my terrified face.
These brothers had prepared their minds for the action that was coming, but I had no clue. That’s exactly what Peter was telling his readers to do. If they prepare their minds for action, they will not be caught unawares by the schemes of the evil one as they unfold.
We prepare our minds for action through the word of God. We read it, meditate on it, and memorize it. That is the only way we can fight temptation, disappointments and suffering when they come. That’s how Jesus overcame his temptation in the wilderness.
A Christian who is not reading his Bible is not preparing his mind for action, and it is likely they would be wounded or killed in the battle.
Be Sober-Minded
Secondly, Peter tells his readers to be sober-minded. A soldier must keep his calm in the midst of a battle, if they want to stay alive. It is no different for the spiritual battle.
In chapter 5:8-10, Peter elaborates on what he means by being sober-minded, he writes,
“be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
In this our action-packed Christian life, sufferings and afflictions can cause us to panic, and may even lead us into sin. We are at our weakest point during those times; but Peter exhorts us to keep a sober mind, be watchful and resist the devil holding firmly to our faith, especially during those times.
Perhaps, for you it may be that long wait for a spouse or a child or a job, which is causing you to be anxious and doubtful of God.
For others that long battle with chronic illness or even your constant falling into besetting sin is making you doubt your faith. Peter’s exhortation is to be sober-minded and watchful.
We stay sober-minded by casting all our anxieties on God because he cares for us. We see this in chapter 5:7. Also, in Philippians 4:6-7, Paul encouraged the saints in Philippi,
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
As we meditate on God’s word and pray, the peace of God which passes all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. There is no other way to stay sober-minded, it is only by casting our cares and anxieties on God.
Set your Hope Fully on the Grace to be Revealed
The final aspect of Peter’s exhortation was for them to fix their eyes on the prize. First is to prepare their mind for action; second is to keep their cool and lastly is to fix their eyes on the prize, which he calls, “the grace that will be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
As we saw earlier, this grace is a big deal. This is what the prophets of old had spent their time and energy researching and inquiring about. But, What is this grace?
This grace is the true reward all Christians are looking forward to. It is that state where we will finally see God face to face; and enjoy all the favour and blessedness that goes with it. In verse 4 he calls it an “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.”
For Peter, this is the greatest prize for the Christian. The promise is not a suffering-free life on earth. It’s not having a respectable job or a decent middle-class affluent life. If anybody is selling you these things as the reward of being a Christian, I can tell you for a fact that you’re being short-changed. You should never settle for that.
The reward to which God has called us has no comparison in this life. Every description you’ve ever read or heard about this reward is just a tip of the iceberg. Apostle Paul in describing it said,
“for this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison”(2 Corinthians 4:17).
This is the hope that should help us endure suffering and overcome disappointments. It is the hope that should help us persevere in the face of opposition. In chapter 5:10 he says,
“and after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
If you’re not a follower of Christ Jesus, I’m not sure what you’ve set your hope on. But whatever it is, it will not survive on the day Jesus Christ will be revealed. This inheritance Peter speaks about can also be yours. You only have to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
And for you my Christian friend, you’re living in an action movie, and for you to survive, Peter exhorts you to prepare your mind for action, keep your cool and fix your hope fully on the prize to come.
