Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.—1 Peter 1:13-19
I am pretty sure that what I thought of when I read 1 Peter 1:13 last night is not quite what Peter might have had in my mind, but it helped me. I thought of the movie The Incredibles, in particularly, when Edna tells Elastigirl to “Pull herself together” and reminds her that she IS Elastigirl. The Holy Spirit, who clearly, if you use me as an example, works in mysterious ways, used this to bring conviction to my heart and make me smile. All of us, when we are stressed for various reasons probably have responses and/or coping mechanisms that WE THINK serve us well. We have used them for years and hey, they are tried and true. Sometimes, it is good to take inventory and evaluate their biblical profitability. Sometimes it is good to see them in light of who we are in Christ. Edna reminds Elastigirl (by slapping her upside her head) that she IS ELASTIGIRL...Here is the conversation.
“What are you talking about? You are Elastigirl!...Pull yourself together! What will you do? Is...is...is this a question? You will show him that you remember that he is Mr. Incredible! And you will REMIND him, who YOU are! Well, you know where he is... Go! Confront the problem! Fight! Win! And call me when you get back, dahling, I enjoy our visits.”
Sometimes I need the Holy Spirit to do that for me. I FORGET who I am in Christ. My conduct becomes aimless, in that, I fall back into my old ways that do not reflect His beautiful work of grace in my life. I have been redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. I am a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but CHOSEN AND PRECIOUS to my God. I am part of a royal priesthood and a holy nation. I am one of His SPECIAL people called out from darkness into His marvelous light. I AM TO PROCLAIM HIS PRAISE. So, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and rest your hope FULLY on His grace that is NOT ONLY brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, but is available to us moment by moment to give us the strength and ability to respond biblically to what comes our way.
To much is given, much is required. I have not only been given much, I have also been forgiven much. I WANT to walk worthy of the calling to which I have been called. I want to be holy because He is holy.
Father,
Incline my heart to Your testimonies,
And not to covetousness.
Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
And revive me in Your way.—Ps 119:36-37
I want to face all that You have planned for me, remembering who I am in You. I desire to live according to Your ways, allowing Your great grace to strengthen me with power as I do.
