Friday, July 22, 2011

SOAP 07/22/2011; 1 Peter 1:13

Today's reading: Isaiah 36, 37; Psalm 76; 1 Peter 1

S) " 13 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."
1 Peter 1:13 (NASB)

O) This is instruction and it's very straight-forward, so it's another that can't really be taken out of context, which is nice. I need to be a willing vessell of God's mercy and grace, and that takes some mental preparation. I need to contemplate how God might use me, before I feel like He might be calling me to action. I need to be alert in spirit, "listening" for God to lead me. Maybe a kind word or a timely gift or volunteering for something; God may call me to do a lot of things that I wouldn't ordinarily choose to do. So, I need to be sure to keep myself ready. In the middle of that, and to help prepare my mind and spirit, I need to actively put all of my hope on the grace given to me, through Jesus Christ.

A) I need to fix my mind on His grace, continually. I need to choose, ahead of time, to be obedient to God's commands. I need to tell myself and God, as I wake up each morning, that I am His and my life is dedicated to Him and spreading His Gospel, by any means He deems necessary. And, having prepared myself, and dedicated myself, I need to apply myself and actually be obedient.

P) Father, help me keep my mind on Your salvation through Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, let that inspire me to action. Help me to be bold and obedient, sharing the Gospel whenever and wherever You give me opportunity. I commit myself to be prepared in my mind, sober in my Spirit, and obedient in my actions. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

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