July 01st, 2026

1 Peter 1:13-16 “Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy…” ~CSB

The hardest part for Christians is living righteously in this dark chaotic world. For example, we know that three of the Fruits of the Spirit, (Galatians 5:22-23), are self-control, patience and kindness. But the energy in our actions become weak when the world hits us with its influence. Influences like when someone cuts us off in traffic. You see, on Sunday our outward religious appearance looks good, but we compromise with the world’s standard when we do not exercise self-control, patience and kindness. We handle the traffic incident in the world’s way instead of God’s way.

At that moment in church where the Holy Spirit turns on. That point where the choir had just sung a song that we may have heard before, but not the way it was sung that morning. The preacher preached a sermon from a familiar verse, but we have never taken the perspective on that verse like it was preached to you that day. We are brought to submission when the morning has allowed the tears to well up in our eyes because of the reception of God’s love, power and healing.

This happens because today, we have prepared ourselves to receive power from on High. This is the day the revelation of Christ has taken root in our soul. In the text, Peter tells us to be ready. When we put ourselves in a position to hear the Word of God, we now must ready ourselves by clearing our minds of all that is not necessary for worship. Put aside the pain and struggle in our hearts so that we have room to receive the blessing of wisdom and strength from the revelations of Christ. In other words, that godly movement of that morning’s worship service has moved us from the side of just knowing a little something about Jesus; to the side of knowing Christ on a whole other relationship level. 

With this feeling of revelation we must take on the responsibility of obedience. This action on our part will flow and form a transformed mind and a vision of God’s holiness. From this point on, we must not fall back into what is not of God, but to live lives that are pleasing to Him. Because He is holy, we must be holy in everything we do and speak. Holiness is a response to God’s call and character.

May God bless and keep you covered and protected in his love as you journey in Jesus’ name.

Amen
 
~Billy

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