Thinking Clearly

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER OF PETER

THINKING CLEARLY

1 Peter 1:13-16

13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."  

NIV

To begin, we need to see the, therefore. He is referring to our salvation, the grace of God, and that we are to search intently with all care concerning the revealing of Jesus Christ and for us, His second coming. So then, we should prepare our minds for action. It is interesting how this version uses the word, self-controlled, while other versions along with the meaning of the Greek use the word, sober. The Greek says that we should gird the loins of our minds, being sober to the end. Although this same Greek word is used to be referred to as not being drunk from drinking too much wine, or any other adult beverages, it has the meaning here or clear-minded, unconfused thinking, not cluttered with nonsensical things. This could pertain to all sorts of matters that would not be clear-minded thinking to the end. If we set our hopes on anything other than grace to be given to us when Jesus is revealed or in this case, returns for us. That would mean we should not set our hopes on those matters that confuse our thinking, such as the hope in material matters for our future. In our modern age, there are so many media forms that are filled with commercials suggesting our hope should be in a proper enough portfolio that will last us through our retirement years. Yet, Jesus has told us, commanded us not to store up treasures for ourselves, where rust can corrode or thieves can break in and steal, but store up treasures in heaven, because where our treasure is there also is our heart. So then we are to fully set our hope, all our trust, all our treasure, in the grace, the gracious act of God, the divine influence upon our heart, living fully in His grace, waiting fully prepared Jesus to be revealed as he appears in the clouds with the sound of the trumpet, and calls us home. Peter goes on to tell us to be as obedient children, but not to be a child in this manner, but to be compliant to the word of the Lord, compliant in his grace, his influence on our hearts. The comparison is between living without his grace, his influence, and living in accordance with his influence. We are not to conform or no longer live without his influence for when we live void of the influence of God, we live in accordance with our own nature, which is evil. This is due to being ignorant, lacking the knowledge of God, lacking the knowledge of his word, and his desires for our lives. This is living with the lack of knowledge regarding his call for us to be holy as He is holy. That is ignorance to the highest degree and without this knowledge, we live in want, we live lacking hope, we live in all sorts of evil manners. However, having that knowledge, setting our minds fully and completely, unconfused, uncluttered on the Lord, we desire to be holy as He is holy. Now, this could seem to be a bit confusing as we are not even able to be as holy as God is, for we are not God, but rather his creation, and as human, we are still in a corruptible form, even with our sin forgiven. So a more complete understanding of this word holy is needed. The meaning of the Greek word Hagios is varied. It properly means revered, as God is revered. To walk in a revered manner. Yet we would not look to be revered by men, but rather by God. This word also means to be set apart, to be fully God's. It also carries the meaning, as suggested by the Greek scholars, as in a moral sense, to walk pure, sinless, and upright. This could create internal chaos as we are fully aware we cannot walk totally sinless, and if we were able to, we would have no need of Jesus. Nevertheless, we are to be holy, to be fully set on living for God. We should be holy in the sense that we desire to be pure, desire not to sin, desire to live uprightly, and be under His influence rather than our own tainted influence. So we desire to be holy and we know we need to think clearly regarding all things.